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Data indicates food trucks don't impede restaurants' growth

May 5, 2017

While many restaurants view food trucks as competitors, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests otherwise, according to an article in The Economist on the growth of the U.S. food truck industry.

Counties that have experienced higher growth in mobile food services have also had quicker growth in their restaurant and catering businesses, the article noted. Since 2010, the number of restaurants in Seattle, Washington and surrounding King County has grown by 16 percent in spite of a thriving food truck scene. In Travis County, Texas, which includes Austin, the restaurant count has jumped 18 percent even as food trucks have increased more than sixfold.

Economic theory would not predict such a complementary relationship between competing industries, the article noted.