The Urban Food-Truck Phenomenon: History, Regulations and Prospect

The city streets and spaces have for the duration of the city’s existence provided an area where people may trade and enjoy food. In the twentieth and twenty-first millennium, this activity is changing in form and conception. The food-truck industry is growing throughout the world and in particular in North America. This paper reviews the growth, its origins, its existing situation and prospect. Through a literature review of existing regulations governing the food-truck industry a compilation of these regulations will be made. After a description of the food-truck industry status in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia a comparison of the previously compiled regulations to the regulations that exist in Jeddah will be made. These comparisons have highlighted some issues with the regulations that exist in Jeddah. Main finding is the relatively insufficient regulations in place to govern the industry in the city, which may hinder the growth and prosperity of the industry and all those involved. Thus one of the main aims of the paper is to provide a basis upon which future regulations for the city of Jeddah may be created. Further discussions on the future of the food-truck industry in the city of Jeddah and beyond are put forth in the concluding section.