We’d love to have you as a food vendor at Twin Cities Veg Fest, and we want to help you make the event as successful as it can be for you and for us.
This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your food products for over 5,000 interested people. The attendees are there to learn more about delicious plant-based foods, so why not share what you have with them? This is also a great way to contribute to the animal-friendly community in the Twin Cities.
Our definition of food vendor is any exhibitor that is selling substantial portions of food or drinks. Exhibitors who are just sampling food or who are selling packaged products are not considered to be food vendors.
We expect 5,000 people or more at this event, and there will be over 20 vendors selling food.
Here are some tips to make your food stand out and sell.
- Have pre-made grab-and-go options
- Create a special offering for the festival, and promote it ahead of time
- Post photos of your menu items at the top of your display
- Make the most of social media: tag @tcvegfest and use the hashtag #tcvegfest in your posts. Post when you register for the festival. Follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts @tcvegfest and share our posts leading up to the event.
Pricing and Portions
We require everyone to provide a $5 sample sized food item for sale. This allows attendees to try food from multiple vendors rather than filling up from one vendor. Aim for portions that are approximately half of what you might sell in a restaurant. At the same time, we encourage you to add a markup on top of your usual restaurant prices for sales at the festival. This will help you make a profit after paying for the exhibitor fee, extra staff time, and any equipment rental or purchases you might need to make. Attendees at festivals expect higher prices. We think a markup of anywhere from 25-100% is reasonable.
As far as what food options you offer, we encourage you to limit yourself to no more than 4 items. Keeping it simple will help keep lines moving and make it easier for you.
Hours and Servings
You are expected to serve food during the entire festival from 10am to 4pm. The busiest times are from 11am to 2pm. You should expect to sell at least 400 servings of food, so make sure you bring enough. Set up starts at 6:30am, and you must be ready for food service by 10am. You will have until 8pm to pack up.
Please make sure you bring enough staff to accommodate intense demand during peak periods. We recommend at least 3 people, with one person taking orders and money, and two preparing food.
Cooking Onsite
You are responsible for providing your own cooking equipment. You can use propane-powered cooking equipment. You can also use electrical equipment if you purchase access to electricity.
Food Licensing
All vendors at Twin Cities Veg Fest 2023 must have any required licenses through the state of Minnesota. Most food vendors will need a Special Event Food Stand License from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
If you are unsure of what license is required for your organization, you can use the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Online Food Licensing Wizard to help identify what permit you will need.
You must provide us with a copy of your food license to share with the Minnesota Department of Health. You can do this when you apply or email it to exhibitors@tcvegfest.com after you apply.
Promoting Your Business
You are welcome to offer attendees cards, menus, or any other promotional materials for your business. However, please make sure that these materials do not feature animal products. And be sure to see our general promotional tips at the top of the page!
More Details
Some additional requirements are covered in the Exhibitor Guidelines, but here are a few of them:
- All products offered for sale must be 100% vegan. This means no animal products, including animal flesh, eggs, dairy, and honey. Please see the Exhibitor Guidelines for more details.
- All of the items served to attendees must be served on compostable products with compostable utensils.
Thank you for your interest in serving food at Twin Cities Veg Fest!