Rising food and fuel prices impact locally owned food trucks

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Rising grocery and fuel prices are impacting everyone, and food trucks are no different.  Burrito Mafia is a South Bend based food truck that opened in 2023, operated by friends Jose and Eric Estrada, no relation, during the warmer months of the year.

"We wanted to be something slightly different." said co-owner Eric. "So, being burritos, we are technically Mexican food, but we have a twist to it, where we are California style, which means all our burritos have steak and French fries inside, and all our burritos are a little over a pound." 

While Americans have been feeling the pain at the pump this summer, it's been hitting seasonal food truck owners as well -- especially in the past year. Burrito Mafia says when they first purchased the truck it cost $130 to fill up, but during some summer weekends this year it's hit $200 to fill the tank.

"Gas is a big, big factor in our costs," Eric said. "And you know it makes it tricky sometimes to get places. And a lot of places want us to come out, and they ask us if we charge, and we haven't charged in these three years that we've been working. That may have to change next year, unfortunately." 

These increases have led to changes in both consumer and vendor behavior. Driving up the cost of groceries due to their transportation costs. This especially impacts restaurants and food trucks-like Burrito Mafia- who ideally would have their food stock delivered to them. 

"We pick up our own because it does save us on a delivery charge of having a truck delivered to our commissary [kitchen]," co-owner Jose says. "We try our best to go through our pricing just to make sure that you know it's something that helps us out, but also at the same time you know we're providing a good product at a good price for our customers."

But simply put, prices are not the same. Some items are being labeled as tariff items to show buyers why the price has increased so significantly.  

Eric said "I looked back at our receipts in 2023, 2024. I can say most of our food items have gone up somewhere between five and $10 each. So, you know, if I need three cases of something, each one is $5 more now than what it was just a couple years ago."  

Burrito Mafia says they try to stay nearby and fill up every two weeks. The truck gets around seven miles a gallon on its 55-gallon tank. Both the truck and generator run on unleaded gas.

"I'm glad we decided to go on you know regular gas instead of diesel." Jose said. "So, I don't know where we would be at. I don't want to imagine where we would be at if we did go that route, I'd feel that we would have to have changed our prices somewhere to accommodate the higher prices." 

In spite of rising fuel and grocery prices, Burrito Mafia has continued to establish itself.

"Yeah, they're long days, exhausting days, but to, to be back there cooking and have somebody come to the window and be like, 'that's the best thing I've ever tasted.' I'm just like, 'okay, I know why I'm doing this.'" Jose said.

Burrito Mafia is hoping to expand to a second truck and possibly a brick and mortar. We'll check in with them next season to see their update.