(Daniel Shentob, winner of Season 2 and All Star of the “Great Food Truck Race,” also spoke at the Food Truck Owners Expo. Photo by Tonya Harvey Photography)
By Debbie Hall
According to Toasttab.com, the food truck business represents a $1.8 billion market in the U.S. in 2024, and is expected to grow in the coming years. ConvExx, a 20-year-old company in the tradeshow industry, developed and produced the Food Truck Owners Expo (FTO), with the first two shows in Houston and Orlando in 2024, and one in Las Vegas earlier this year. The next show will be held in Edison, New Jersey, on December 2-3, and in Austin, Texas, next year. Anyone currently owning a food truck or considering entering the industry is invited to attend.
The Food Truck Owners Expo is dedicated to all aspects of the business of mobile food vendors. There are seminars to train owners on how to run successful businesses, as well as in-person meetings between suppliers and food truck owners to improve their business operations. The expo features industry experts who provide valuable knowledge to help owners enhance their businesses. There is an opportunity to connect suppliers and manufacturers to food truck owners. Industry networking events and opportunities are crucial for strengthening connections and fostering support.
Cassandra Stock, Vice President of Attendee Services and Registration at ConvExx, and Sheldon Kaye, Vice President of Events & Technology Management at ConvExx, both served as show managers.
“Food truck owners are all incredible cooks; they make some amazing food, but many need to understand the business side of the business,” said Kaye. “We’re trying to introduce them to the right people, teach them the things they need to stay in business, grow and take it to the next level.
Along with seminars, training sessions, and networking opportunities, the exhibit floor vendors offered products and services including trailers, refrigerators, equipment, POS systems, insurance coverage, menu boards, and branded clothing.
“We offer networking because participants in our first two food trucks expos last year were interested in meeting others preparing the same cuisines, such as barbecue. We feature different ways for them to connect with other food truck owners selling the same food. Other food truck owners and potential owners want to meet with owners of different food trucks for a conversation. Our attendees are meeting people from around the country to learn about their work and experiences. At our Las Vegas FTO Expo, we had vendors and attendees from 40 different states.”
Bill Moore, host of the 10-Minute Food Truck Training podcast (morebetterperformance.com), has 75,000 food truck followers and was one of the speakers at FTO. Daniel Shentob, The Lime Truck (thelimetruck.com), and winner of Season 2 and All Star of the Great Food Truck Race, also spoke at the Las Vegas FTO expo.
Justin Prestige, owner of Custom Trailer Pros, designs and creates the food truck and trailer.
“All of our customers are food entrepreneurs. They are either leaving a different job and doing this as their dream,” explained Prestige. “They’ve always wanted to cook food for other people. I love helping entrepreneurs. I was aware of selling this product and creating an ecosystem that would enable them to be as successful as possible, as quickly as possible. That’s my passion.”
He also coaches startup businesses, combining his passion for food trucks with his expertise in startups.
“It’s my third time doing this expo with this group. They put on such a great show. It’s truly beneficial for people who are in the food truck world,” added Prestige.
Rory Wilson. Communications Director for Dedicated Fire Supply Wahabic, has attended all three FTO expos. “Each one of these expos gets larger and better with the next one,” Wilson stated.
William Zeuch, Chief Revenue Officer of Sequent FoodService Solutions, agreed that the expo he attended was fantastic. Audrey Dempsey, owner of Infinity Photo, also agrees that the expo continues to grow and improve every year.
ConvExx, based in Las Vegas, provides organizational and management services to nonprofit trade associations as well as produces its own tradeshows and conferences. Stock manages all show registration processes, along with exhibitor training programs, customer service, and onsite training for temporary staff. Kaye started working at ConvExx in IT, and his passion for the industry and skill sets have led him to be the leader of the Mobile Tech Expo series of events. Visit convexx.com for more info.
For more info on the upcoming Food Truck Owner Expo, visit ftoexpo.com.
