After the devastation of Acapulco by the impacts of hurricanes ‘Otis’ and ‘John’, many workers in the service sector had to adapt to the new circumstances and look for other business models to make a living.
One option has been the so-called Food Trucks, which until now remain unregulated.
For five years, Jovani, a young man from Acapulco with higher education in gastronomy and cocktails, modified an old truck to sell drinks outside a nightclub on the Costera Miguel Alemán in the port of Acapulco.
The 28-year-old says that necessity and lack of work forced him to start this business.
We really look for a way to fill the gap of unemployment and lack of economic security, and yes, many people might criticize the part where they don’t pay taxes, but in a certain way jobs are created
After Hurricane Otis, modified vehicles began to proliferate in Acapulco where all kinds of products are offered: tacos, hot dogs, tamales, coconuts, and cafeteria service.
In this regard, Raúl Iracheta Montoya, a member of CANACO Acapulco, says:
It needs to be regularized. I think that the Regulations and Public Roads Department should address this situation.
Andrés, who sells food in his vehicle, explains:
Normally, we are here from five, five-thirty until nine, nine-thirty.
When asked if they have any documents, he replied:
Well, no, no, no, I couldn’t tell you.
On the Miguel Alemán coast, in the middle of the Golden Zone, there is a mobile cafeteria. Those who run it claim to have the permits to operate.
“My boss has all his permits in order and everything is perfect, yes that’s the case,” says Diego Sánchez, manager of the mobile cafeteria.
The National Chamber of Commerce indicated that these businesses abound in the urban area and especially in the Miguel Alemán coast, although not in the Diamante zone where the Mexican Tennis Open is currently taking place.
Miguel Ángel Mejía, councilor of the Popular Commerce and Supply Commission explains:
One understands that due to the economic situation that ‘Otis’ and ‘John’ left us in this case, people are looking to generate income, but we also have to do it in a regulated way
Competition
For established commerce, Food Trucks represent unfair competition. As Oswaldo Flores, manager of a restaurant, points out:
There are also trucks that sell fast food, which do not pay taxes or permits because
Given this situation, Jovani specifies:
We are not refusing to be able to generate a dialogue and to be able to really generate our contribution to the municipality
And although local authorities assure that operations are carried out to stop this type of commerce, the presence of these mobile restaurants continues to grow.
Source: nmas
