Food Truck Phenomenon at the Exchange

Scott AFB, Ill., hosts Food Truck Fridays, featuring 13 various food trucks, other vendors,
recreation and entertainment. A recent event netted nearly $20,000 despite rain that day.

The Exchange joins the food truck craze. Many installations offer multiple food trucks around special occasions. At Scott AFB “Food Truck Fridays” offering entertainment, food and other vendors to draw customers for food and family fun.

This type of event makes the Exchange an integral part of the military community. Exchanges have seen up to a 39 percent increase in sales and net earnings for mobile food trucks. Through September, total sales in 2016 were nearly $11 million and net earnings more than $1.5 million.

The Exchange has intensified bringing these local services on the installations to add variety, convenience and augment our stationary restaurant offerings.

—Ron Trementozzi, assistant director for restaurant development

JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., has its own food trucks, which give customers more choices, bring sales to the Exchange and provide excitement.

Only at Fort Bragg, N.C., can Soldiers drop in for an ice cream cone. The ice cream truck meets the Soldiers during their field exercises every Friday.

History FunFact

The Exchange has supported military customers with food trucks for decades, even before the recent food truck phenomenon.

This Exchange food truck supported pilots during the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49.

The Randolph AFB food truck served up snacks for Airmen in the 1950s.

The Exchange has always been in this type of service, and more so in recent years as food trucks have become a posh destination.

—Ron Trementozzi, assistant director for restaurant development