Street Food Business Model Thriving for Centuries as An Attractive Informal Vertical of Hotel Industry, Delivering Delightful Products and Experience to Tourists - Inland and Global.

Abstract

Introduction: Street food is a branch-out of Street vending and the reports authentically confirm that 20% of the street vending business in India is of ‘Street food’.  The business model- Street food, though grew on the sidelines, as an unorganized-sector arm of food business, showed that it always had the potential to survive by delighting the foodies, since the business model has had clear objectives.  Street Food vendors, as mentioned in the draft National Policy, are persons who offer food/s for sale to the public from their temporarily built up structure or mobile / moving stalls. Speaking about Street-Food and the Vendors, specially, they belong to the marginalized urban poor communities.  Despite their status in society, they play a dynamic role in the economy – providing foods, which are tasty, cheaper and available at ease, saving time and travel, to many needy buyers.  The contribution to economy on account of sale of street foods is quite sizable, especially in the developing countries.  Street food - their sale and consumption –has been meeting the needs of rural migrants, who keep moving to urban centres in search of gainful employment.  Since the vendors have low or lack of skills, Street food business, as a family/small team venture, turns out to support the livelihoods of these families.  Further, the rapid growth that the informal sector in the economy is experiencing, provides succour to street vendors, with particular reference to Street-foods, pursuing of which would need only ‘low initial investment’ and ‘low skills’, which is not difficult for them to be equipped with. By keeping a few things in mind, such as hygiene and safety, anyone can enjoy authentic Indian street food.

Objectives: The paper unfolds all the facts relating to the Street foods, which is by itself a grand chapter in culinary for centuries, and which retained its status all through in the hospitality industry. The paper also uncovers the facts as to how the Street food business model remained as un-organized sector arm - with the findings of case studies supporting the conclusive observations.  Observations also were made about the instances of Street food model of business defying certain of the formal aspects of business for making itself enduring and successful, retaining its special characteristics - cultural, social and economic in nature.

Methods: The research study undertaken has been done through exploration of the past  data -  Research papers, Case Studies and also the other secondary sources  of authentic nature.  The micro-level study done throws open observations of diverse facts,  which have been recorded and sequenced to document the history of Street foods - the past, the present and future. 

Results: The research studies of diverse nature on the subject ‘Street Food” speak about the highly varying operational specifics, however the findings of such careful studies enlighten us on a few points which enable us to understand that the Street-food business model was a naturally born model of food business, surviving right from the ancient past. It is therefore a need based essential and is relevant for all times – the past, present and future.  Like home – the living place for people and families, the Street is a God enabled public place which is the common ground for people to go around, meet and acquaint with others, interact and exchange their ideas, opinions, issues and to be supportive in co-existence.  The Street has been a showcasing place for people to inform, instruct, influence, entertain, exchange enabling in the earliest days, bartering of commodities, products, services. The practice is still in vogue.

Conclusions:The features – Easy availability, low cost and tasty options meeting the needs of those looking for it, make the Street foods to continue to be popular facing all odds that work against it.  Street food thus had its origin right from the unknown past and will ever  remain in future, if the study findings are to be taken for validation.