Saskatoon food trucks unite to form industry association

Saskatoon food truck owners have banded together to improve city policies for their industry.

Nine food truck companies have formed the city’s first Food Truck Association, and they hope more will join as business continues to boom.
 
Cocoa Food Inc co-owner Marissa Benne said the association came about organically when owners started talking and learning about city policies and business tips from one another.
 
“By pooling our resources and trading information, we could all benefit from just communication,” she said.
 
With the birth of Saskatoon’s food truck industry, both owners and the city entered unfamiliar policy territory, Benne said. The association hopes to affect positive policy decisions.

Saskatoon has some of the highest food truck licensing fees in the country, according to Benne.

While Regina food truck owners pay $1,400 for the year, Saskatoon owners pay $1,200 every three months.
 
She said they also want to change policies that state only two trucks can park on one city block, and only for five hours at a time.

Five hours is hard for some owners, who can spend a combined hour and a half setting up and cleaning deep fryers.

She said the city has been responsive to their concerns.