Blog
Not recommendations, just supporting independent food businesses and sharing thoughts on stuff we care about.
Food Industry
Veganism: Finding agency in a global climate crisis
Meat and dairy use 83% of farmland but provide just 18% of calories. On World Vegan Day, here's what your plate has to do with the climate crisis. 🌱
Food Industry
How to open a coffee shop: advice from the experts
Take things slowly. Don't compromise on quality. Pay your taxes on time. Three independent coffee shop owners share their hard-won advice. ☕
Food Industry
How does Google see your website, and why should you care?
Page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs — three simple tweaks that can make a real difference to how Google finds and ranks your food business website. 🔍
Food Industry
A simple guide to opening a coffee shop
Your USP, your experience, your budget, your people — the four things you need to think through before opening an independent coffee shop. ☕
Food Industry
Optimise Google My Business. Get Google onside
Setting up Google My Business is the start — optimising it is where the real wins are. A practical guide for independent food businesses. 🔍
Food Industry
Google My Business is your new must-have tool
46% of Google searches are looking for local businesses. Here's why Google My Business is the free, essential tool every independent food business needs. 🔍
Food Industry
Service Abnormal: recording the London food scene in the throes of a pandemic
Bikes, backpacks, and a phone through a window. Meet Service Abnormal — the Instagram series that documented London's indie food scene through a pandemic. 🎬
Food Industry
What you need to know before creating your webshop
Know your brand. Start small. Keep it simple. Expert advice for independent food businesses ready to launch their online shop — without the overwhelm. 🛒
Food Industry
Why your business needs an online shop
Deliveroo and Just Eat are over-saturated — your storefront looks identical to your competitor's. Here's why independent food businesses need their own webshop. 🛒
Food Industry
Why your menu should be easily searchable
Customers decide where to eat based on what they can find online. For independent food businesses, a clear, searchable menu can make all the difference. 🔍
Food Industry
How shopping local benefits the environment
We delve into the many environmental benefits of shopping locally.
Food Industry
Getting greener with your packaging ?♻️
We all need to be more environmentally-conscious these days, but making the right decisions on packaging and consumables for your food business is not straightforward. With so much information available on material-types, recyclability and re-usability, it’s hard to know what the best options are for going green. We’ve reached out to Disposable Green for a […]
Food Industry
Information is the appetiser – your food is the main…
During the market research phase for developing Hawkker we surveyed 75 street food eaters to understand how technology could be applied to improve the independent food customer-purchase journey. This is what we learned…
Food Industry
You’ve nailed the food, now get the packaging right! ? ?
With a million-and-one decisions to be made as an independent food entrepreneur we know that sometimes a few pointers can save a lot of time. As part of our blog series to help small vendors, we’ve teamed up with our friends at GM Packaging to help answer a few of the common questions vendors have […]
Food Industry
Street Food Must Embrace Technology to Succeed in the Digital Era
Street food is at the cutting edge of culinary innovation in the UK, but it needs the power of technology to take on the high street and satisfy the appetites of the digital-first consumer Eaters are Digital Natives Millennials and Gen Z – the terms used to describe the “digital native” generations of young people […]
Food Industry
Markets Matter: The Importance of Independent Markets in the UK
The existence of local markets in the UK makes a real difference to our economy, our politics and our social cohesion. A 2015 report commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council and the National Association of British Market Authorities reveals the many ways in which local markets make a vital contribution to the UK […]
Food Industry
Top Tips For New Street Food Vendors
Are you thinking about becoming a street food vendor or new to the industry? Check out these tips from the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) Know that the money isn’t easy Do your financial planning – will selling street food cover your living costs now and in the future? Working for yourself can be very rewarding, […]
Food Industry
Marketing Street Food to Millennials and Gen Z
Millennials & Gen Z’s have the highest visit frequency for out of home eating and make the biggest contribution to eating out spend – this is driven by their desire to try new things Millennials & Gen Z’s eat out of the home more often You need to engage a millennial audience though social media, […]
Food Industry
How Much Does it Cost to Start A Street Food Business?
It’s true – starting a street food business is cheaper than setting up a fully-fledged brick and mortar restaurant. But expenses rack up quickly, even if you’re operating a street food stand or truck, so it’s important to consider gazebo/truck, transport, equipment and compliance costs before you hit the street with your dishes. Gazebo vs […]
Food Industry
The London Market Directory
Street Food Vendors – there’s never been a better time to find locations to sell your food in the capital! We’ve spent hours researching London street food markets, food halls, venues and pub residencies to bring you a list of over 100 places you can apply to sell your incredible food.