Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
We recommend starting with a solid business plan and then checking with your local council to understand their specific requirements. Here is a general roadmap for starting a food trailer business in New Zealand:
1. Create a Business Plan: A well-structured plan is your first step. It should cover:
Your concept: What kind of food will you sell, and what makes your business unique?
Your target market: Who are your customers?
Financials: How will you fund the business? This includes start-up costs (trailer, equipment, permits), operational expenses (ingredients, fuel, staff), and projected revenue.
Locations: Where you plan to operate? This is key for understanding council requirements.
2. Understand Compliance and Licensing: All food businesses in New Zealand must comply with the Food Act 2014.
Food Control Plan (FCP) or National Programme (NP): You will need to register your business under one of these frameworks to ensure you're preparing and selling safe food. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) offers a "My Food Rules" tool to help you determine which one is right for your business.
Council Registration: You must register your food business with the council where your business is based. They will verify your compliance with your chosen FCP or NP.
Mobile Trading Licence: To sell food from a public place (like a street or park), you'll also need a separate mobile trading licence from the local council where you plan to operate. This licence specifies approved trading locations and times.
3. Finalize Your Trailer and Equipment: Based on your business plan, you can determine the size and features you need for your trailer. This is where we come in! Our team can help you select the right model and equipment for your menu, and we ensure the trailer's design is fully compliant with council and food safety standards.
For more detailed information, we recommend visiting the websites of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and your local council's environmental health or food licensing department.
To give you an accurate quote, we need to understand your unique needs. It would be a great help to know:
The model and size of trailer you prefer.
How many people will be working inside.
The type of business you plan to operate.
When you want to start trading.
This helps us guide you on the appropriate appliances, power consumption, timing and compliance information you'll need.
Trailer Features & Customization
With over 10 years of experience in the industry, we pride ourselves on our expertise in designing and building high-quality food trailers. All of our trailers are built with top-quality components to ensure they meet New Zealand's safety and compliance standards. Our commitment to quality is reflected in our 5-star Google reviews.
Exterior Features
Galvanized steel draw bar and chassis
2-ton coupling and a swing-up jockey wheel
4 heavy-duty standing legs
14” wheels
Customer serving tray
Road Compliance: 1-year registration, 3-year WOF, and 4-year Electrical WOF (EWoF)
Interior Features
Electrical: 32 Amp electrical installation (7000 watts) with a 4-year EWoF
Surfaces: Stainless steel 304 countertops, cabinets, shelves, and customer exterior serving tray
Water System: Double sinks with a quality swivel tap, 100L fresh and waste water tanks, a 10L Haier electric water heater, and a SeaFlo water pump
Equipment: Cash drawer with a data connector, rangehood and extractor fans (on cooking trailers), under-bench commercial fridge (model dependent), and LED interior lighting
Our trailers are built to last with durable materials. Our Round and Square models are constructed from high-resistant fiberglass panels with XPS insulation. Our Airstream and Retro models feature a high-grade 304 stainless steel exterior.
You can customize your trailer with a range of high-quality upgrades, including:
Electrical equipment: such as a pie warmer, coffee machine, coffee grinder, bain marie, or electric oven and many more.
Gas cooking appliances: such as a fryer, griddle/hot plate, burners, or oven and many more.
Gas box
Spare wheel
Air conditioning (custom builds)
Direct water supply options (custom builds)
Trailer Specifications & Compliance
The specifications for our trailers, including size, weight, and braking systems, are dependent on the specific model. We will work with you to ensure your trailer is designed to meet your specific needs while complying with all New Zealand transport regulations.
Yes, all of our trailers are designed to meet or exceed council requirements for mobile food businesses. To legally operate a mobile food unit, you will need to register with your local council under the Food Act 2014 and obtain any required licences to trade on public land.
Our trailers are built to assist you in this process by incorporating the following features to ensure compliance with a Food Control Plan or National Programme:
Weather protection for the food.
Interior surfaces (walls, floor, and ceiling) that are smooth, sealed, and easy to clean.
A wash hand basin with running hot and cold water (where food is prepared).
Benches and shelves with smooth, sealed surfaces.
Effective vermin proofing.
Ventilation to prevent excessive heat, condensation, and odours when cooking is undertaken.
An Environmental Health Officer from your council will inspect the unit as part of the food business verification process.
When we handle the full fit-out for you, you can leave with complete confidence, knowing that all installations are done safely and professionally, and your trailer is fully compliant and ready to operate.
Our standard electrical configuration is 32 Amps, which includes six 10 Amp double power points, an LED ceiling light, and a power inlet. This setup comes with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) and a 4-year EWoF.
Our trailers are fitted with a high-quality, 10-liter Haier electric water heater. A SeaFlo water pump draws water from a 100-liter freshwater tank located under the trailer and pumps it through the system, providing both hot and cold running water to the sinks.
Yes, we can provide both electrical and gas appliances for your trailer. Each appliance is covered by a manufacturer's warranty, which varies by brand and model. We will provide you with all of the specific warranty information for each appliance at the time of your purchase.
We understand that some clients may wish to supply their own appliances. While this is an option for items that are not built-in, it is crucial that all electrical and gas appliance installation work is carried out by a certified New Zealand professional.
For electrical appliances, all installation work must be performed by a Registered Electrician to comply with the Electrical Safety Regulations and maintain your trailer's Electrical Warrant of Fitness (EWoF). For any gas appliances, all fittings and connections must be completed and certified by a Registered Gasfitter.
It is your responsibility to ensure all work meets these standards and to confirm that the total electrical and gas consumption of all appliances does not exceed the capacity of the trailer's systems.
We strongly recommend consulting with your council and insurance provider before undertaking any of this work.
Yes, we provide professional gas appliance installation as an add-on service. All work is carried out by a Registered Gasfitter, ensuring every connection and fitting is installed to the highest safety and compliance standards. Upon completion, you will receive a Gas Certificate of Compliance, providing you with the peace of mind that your gas system is fully legal and safe to use.
Powering a food trailer with batteries and solar panels is an option that is attracting increasing interest. However, these are highly specialised systems, and the right solution depends entirely on your specific power needs, the appliances you plan to use, and your budget. Because this is not a service we offer directly, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified off-grid power solutions provider who can design a system to meet your unique requirements.
Yes, we can provide high-quality petrol inverter generators from trusted brands like Honda, Briggs and Stratton, and GT Power.
A petrol inverter generator is an ideal solution for a food trailer because it produces a very clean, stable, and safe power output. Unlike traditional generators, which can have power fluctuations that may damage sensitive electronics, an inverter generator's sophisticated technology ensures consistent power.
This clean power is essential for running sensitive equipment such as:
Refrigerators and freezers
POS (Point-of-Sale) systems
LED lighting
Commercial appliances with digital controls
Inverter generators also offer significant advantages in terms of fuel efficiency, quiet operation, and portability, making them the best choice for a professional mobile food business.
Purchasing & Delivery
Yes, we have a partnership with MTF Finance and other finance companies to offer tailored financing options. The process is simple and straightforward:
Get a Quote from Us: Your first step is to work with our team to finalize your trailer design and receive a detailed quote.
Contact Our Finance Partner: Once you are happy with your quote, we will send it directly to our trusted finance partner, MTF Finance.
Finalize Your Loan: From there, the team at MTF Finance will work with you directly to find the best finance option for your needs and complete your loan application.
You can also contact our finance agent directly to discuss your requirements and payment terms.
Phone: 021 542 215
Yes, we offer a full range of custom branding and wrapping solutions. Our service ensures your trailer not only looks professional but also serves as a vibrant, eye-catching advertisement that helps grow your business.
Unfortunately, we do not offer lease or hire options at this time.
Absolutely. We include 1-year Rego and 3-year WOF and a 4-year EWoF for the electrical system, for all our trailers.
Yes, we provide a 1-year back-to-base warranty on all our trailers. Please refer to our Warranty Policy for more details.
Unfortunately, GST is required for registered companies like ours. You can easily register for GST with Inland Revenue to get your GST back.
We carry a wide range of trailers in stock and would welcome the opportunity to show you in person. If you're unable to visit our location, we would be happy to arrange a video call to give you a tour.
We are open on weekdays, but weekend viewings can be made by appointment. We'll do our best to accommodate your needs.
Yes, we can arrange transport throughout both the North and South Islands.