Shipping containers can sometimes find new life as a tiny home, but now, a Berlin-based startup is turning the metal containers into food trucks.
Walkingboxes - which was founded amid the pandemic in 2020 - makes sustainable "mobile kitchens" out of shipping containers to make "good food democratic," according to the company. And there's likely no better time to introduce a new food truck or trailer: outdoor dining during COVID-19 is still the only dining option in some cities.
"Since outdoor dining is less affected by the restrictions and people from the catering industry are less busy at the moment, many are dreaming of their own street food business - including top chefs," Lorch told Insider in an email interview.
Lorch believes the food truck industry will come out strong after the coronavirus pandemic as outdoor dining and takeout have dominated throughout COVID-19.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
"Even if one doesn't wish for the coronavirus, it is a driving force for innovations and the rethinking and questioning of deadlocked structures," Lorch wrote.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
Lorch became inspired to pursue the endeavor when his South Korean mother was looking to start a Korean food truck in Germany.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
While looking for a food truck, Lorch realized none of the available options offered something that "met the demands of a new wave of gastronomes in terms of design, sustainability, and individuality," according to the startup.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
The designs then received positive responses, pushing Lorch to create a food trailer that could be configurable and customizable.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
A few years prior to starting Walkingboxes, Lorch considered getting into the tiny home industry, which has also boomed during COVID-19.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
"We come from the cultural sector and know many young star gastronomy chefs personally," Lorch wrote. "We know about the wishes and problems of this special target group."
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
If you happen to be a shipping container purist, don't fret. Walkingboxes' containers still adhere to some ISO standard specs for shipping containers.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
The trailer was also designed to be semi-customizable and modular, allowing chefs to tailor their mobile kitchens to their own cooking styles.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
The customizable cooking space can accommodate a variety of appliances and tools, allowing chefs to create anything from vegan ice cream to baked goods to ramen.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
Prices vary by size and customization, but a small Walkingboxes trailer - which sits at 10.5 feet by 7.2 feet - starts at €27,000, almost $32,750.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
Chefs are able to implement smaller menus and more affordable meals by using a food truck instead of a brick and mortar shop, according to Lorch.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
“The price, but also the elimination of reservation and table etiquette, makes it much easier to access good food that is not only healthy and filling but also expands our range of reference,” Lorch explained.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
You may have to wait a bit longer before you see a Walkingboxes trailer in Canada or the US as the company is still working on a way to send it overseas.
The Walkingboxes food trailer.
No comments