The idea
Launched by Kitchenette, the food start-up incubator, the Kitchenette Karts nonprofit food truck will sell delicious, healthy sustainable fish and chips. We’ll promote a healthier fast food option in one of London’s most deprived communities, while training unemployed young people and supporting them into work – or to start up their own micro food enterprise. Since 2014, Kitchenette has worked with dozens of low-income food entrepreneurs, supported them into work placements and matched them with top industry mentors. Now we want to develop a new food truck social enterprise model to invigorate Chrisp Street, an historic local market in Poplar, Tower Hamlets. Our truck will enable young local residents to drive the area's regeneration, while gaining skills and promoting healthier eating. Working alongside Poplar HARCA, the Prince's Trust and local Jobcentres, Kitchenette Karts will adapt New York City’s award-winning Drive Change social enterprise model for East London.
What we'll deliver
- Invigorate Poplar's Chrisp Street Market and bring the community together with a project by and for local people
- Serve up hundreds of healthy, delicious portions of fish & chips, with fewer than 50% of the usual calories
- Support 20 young unemployed East Londoners each year to enter work or set up micro enterprises, trained in our truck
Why it's a great idea
Chrisp St Market sits in the second most deprived ward in London. 51% of children are in poverty, a quarter of residents have no qualifications and 1 in 5 young people are unemployed. Yet through our work with young residents, we know their ambition and potential is great.
Meanwhile, nearly a third of Year 6 children are obese. Cheaply available fast food is a major factor: there are 42 fast food shops for every school in the borough. Fish & chips, long an East End classic, has 1086 calories when made with traditional dripping.
Kitchenette Karts’ affordable, healthy pollock will be lightly fried in rapeseed oil and served with locally grown salads, vegetables and baked skin-on chips. One portion will have fewer than half the calories – but taste just as great.
Our truck will further act as an ‘engine of opportunity’, training local 18-24 year olds through our work-based programme, including mentoring by London's top street food entrepreneurs.
Steps to get it done
- Hit 10% profitability on food truck sales
- Complete our first programme
- Purchase our truck, complete fit-out and get it road-safe
- Recruit 20 local young people to participate in our programme
All profits will be recycled back into our social enterprise, supporting 20 young unemployed East Londoners each year to gain skills, get into work or start up a micro food business. Once we're on the road, we'll cover our running costs by selling healthy, delicious fish and chips throughout the week in Chrisp Street, topped up by serving at events, festivals and more.
We're Kitchenette Karts, help us get on the road!
