Mobile Grocery Shop

scaredofdebt

OK, so not the most original idea but I have a few questions.

What licences would I need to sell groceries out of a mobile shop?

Do I need street vendor licence or something else?

If I sold alcohol (to take away!) what licence would I need for that?

Just an idea I am looking at and I need to know costs etc to see if it is viable.

Obviously I need the vehicle and stock, possibly staff, insurance, fuel etc.

Thanks,

fishybusiness

If I sold alcohol (to take away!) what licence would I need for that?

Take that a bit further and you'd be selling beer out of a barrel......mobile beer on draught. Wonder why it hasn't been done yet.

paddyrg

I doubt you could sell booze - "off licence" is an "off premises licence”, ie the premises are a part of the licence conditions (presumably to stop it being a free for all, not too close to schools, etc).

As for the rest, your local council will give you the most specific help as it's them who'll want to be sure you're keeping stuff safely/not paying a health risk. Maybe start with whoever deals with ice cream vans?

I can't imagine that the licencing for the food/trade will be high, there may be conditions like having to keep moving (so you aren't really a corner shop that happens to be in wheels in one place), but with low overheads it could be worth a try

scaredofdebt

Thanks.

The selling alcohol can probably wait until I see if the grocery side of it is feasible.

I have a bit of a USP for the business so I think it will work but need to get a business plan together first, so thanks for the pointers.

motorguy

Any mobile grocery / vegetable / meat vans that i've seen tried havent really lasted. Breadmen and milkmen are a thing of the past too.

Are you not going to be up against the likes of Tesco who will deliver exactly what you want from their vast range of stock at cheap prices without even having to stand in the back of a pokey van to pick it out?

People are hugely price aware these days, and you're not going to be able to compete on range of good or on price either.

Also, where do you plan to keep all your chilled goods? That would require extra storage somewhere for chilled goods, frozen goods, perishable goods and general stock.

Plus given the stock you'd be attempting to carry, you'd need a large van / lorry, which will be sore on diesel, so you couldnt really afford to drive distances between houses.

Genuinely cant see that there is a market for it. 40 years ago, yes. Nowadays with the internet at everyones fingertips - No.

scaredofdebt

Tesco etc won't be competition.

As I say, I have a USP, the issues you raise aren't issues.

It still may not be feasible, I need to do more research into it first.

paddyrg

Good luck, I'm sure there are niches where this can still work (holiday resorts for instance have a convenience-oriented trapped clientele). If you launch then maybe tell us what niche you a spotted or if you pass, it's always useful to hear your experiences and why not!

antrobus

paddyrg wrote: »

I doubt you could sell booze - "off licence" is an "off premises licence”, ie the premises are a part of the licence conditions (presumably to stop it being a free for all, not too close to schools, etc)....

Doubt no more.

The takeaway-style drinks service — called Party Cellar — is the first of its kind to be set up in the city.
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Police-concern-takeaway-booze-van/story-11750924-detail/story.html

antrobus

scaredofdebt wrote: »

...What licences would I need to sell groceries out of a mobile shop? ...

You could try this
https://www.gov.uk/licence-finder

scaredofdebt

Thanks guys.

The local council have been surprisingly helpful.

I will report back as and when I make progress but that may not be soon!

motorguy

scaredofdebt wrote: »

Tesco etc won't be competition.

As I say, I have a USP, the issues you raise aren't issues.

It still may not be feasible, I need to do more research into it first.

Cool

Good luck and let us know how it pans out! :beer: