S2207 - Mobile and railway catering, food trucks

Operational Details
Mobile catering and railway catering services are basically travelling restaurants or cafes. They do not compete with camp caterers who provide the facilities and meals in remote locations. Mobile caterers include those who operate out of a central facility that prepares fast food and loads it onto half-ton catering trucks. Drivers travel to industrial and commercial sites, selling beverages, hamburgers, sandwiches, and confectionary items to those who do not have restaurants nearby. Often, catering trucks have a district or area they service and a business may own several trucks.

Railway catering includes the provision of servers and food products for work trains, which includes a railcar set up as a cook house, or a passenger train, that has their own diner, but contracts a caterer to serve their passengers. Railway caterers basically prepare the food beforehand and freeze it, much the same as is done on airlines, and the products are then heated in ovens or microwave stoves. Some fresh products may be cooked as well on the train, however, for the most part the sandwiches and entrees are from the main office or location where all the cooking is done.

Servers on the train may also heat up food and prepare coffee and other beverages. In some instances, the cater must supply their own utensils, cutlery, pots and pans and dishes. In other cases, the caterer only provides food and beverages and they work out of a kitchen facility that is completely stocked with all the necessary kitchen items to operate a catering operation.

Food Trucks are large wheeled vehicles equipped to cook and sell food. These traveling restaurants may sell items for take-out : parked on the street, at farmers' markets, outdoor events or locations where there is a high volume of pedestrian traffic. They are operated by a small staff that includes the duties of service window attendants, chefs/cooks and a driver. Food trucks offer a myriad of menu options that cater to all tastes from fast food to offering gourmet, locally source menu items.

SIC Codes
000000746 - Mobile and railway catering
   000001040 - Food Truck