Food truck companies have surged in popularity in recent years, offering delicious food without sacrificing the convenience of quick service. Ratengo, a family-run business in Andrews, Texas, started out as a small luxury private catering service, but has since expanded into a thriving food truck operation in just a year. Ratengo’s story demonstrates the power of entrepreneurship and the importance of community support in helping small businesses grow.
The Beginning of Ratengo
The origins of Ratengo rest in the hands of two ambitious brothers, Raúl Vásquez and Marco Salazar, who quit their jobs to pursue their passion for cooking. With the help of their supportive community of Andrews, Texas, Ratengo began as a luxury private catering business. As word began to spread about their delicious food and exceptional service, the Ratengo brothers decided to expand their business to a food truck location.
Expansion to a Food Truck Operation
The Ratengo brothers’ dream of owning a food truck turned into reality when they were finally able to open their food truck business in partnership with Blue Barn Coffee Co. in Andrews, Texas. The food truck hours, specials, and private catering inquiries can all be found on their Facebook page. The food truck’s success has not only allowed the brothers to quit their part-time jobs but has also brought in more family members to help grow the business.
Community Support and Dedication
Despite their monumental success, Ratengo’s owners remain dedicated to their hometown of Andrews, Texas. The Ratengo brothers implement their experience living with only a few food options in Andrews by providing the community with quality meals. Their food truck has become a staple in the community, and other West Texans now have something to look forward to. Ratengo’s story shows the power of hard work, determination, and community support in helping small businesses grow.
Additional Piece:
Food Truck Industry Growth and Key Factors for Success
The food truck industry has seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years. According to the US Food Truck Industry Market Research Report, the food truck industry has a projected annual growth rate of 4.8% from 2020-2025, with estimated revenues reaching $1.214 billion by 2025. As the industry grows, many small businesses are jumping into the food truck trend.
The success of the Ratengo brothers can be attributed to several key factors that are critical for every food truck business owner looking to make it in the industry. These factors include:
1. Community Support and Word of Mouth Advertising
For many new food truck ventures, word of mouth advertising and community support play a massive role in the success of the business. Ratengo’s success is largely due to the tremendous support of their community in Andrews, Texas. They were able to grow their business through word of mouth advertising, reaching out to their community through social media and catering events, and utilizing free online listings for their food truck, such as the Roaming Hunger database.
2. Unique Menu and High-Quality Food
A unique and well-crafted menu can set a food truck apart from the competition. Ratengo offers unique gourmet dishes that are familiar to their customers but with a unique twist. Their high-quality food made with fresh ingredients, cooked to order in small batches, has earned them a great reputation among foodies in the West Texas area.
3. Social Media Presence and Online Presence
Social media plays a crucial role in promoting a food truck business. This platform allows businesses to advertise their daily specials, promote catering events, and share customer reviews. Ratengo’s active presence on Facebook has allowed them to communicate with their loyal customers quickly and effectively, as well as reach out to new customers.
4. Customer Service
Excellent service is vital for a successful food truck business. The Ratengo brothers place their customers’ satisfaction at the forefront of their business. They build friendships with their customers while providing high-quality food and service, which helps boost their business via word of mouth advertising.
5. Hard Work and Dedication
The food truck industry is not for the faint of heart. It requires hard work, long hours, and a considerable amount of dedication from its owners. Ratengo’s owners work tirelessly to ensure their food is of the highest quality and their customers are satisfied. This hard work and dedication have paid off, built a loyal customer base, and helped push Ratengo’s growth.
Summary:
Ratengo is a family-run food truck business in Andrews, Texas, which grew from a small private catering service to a successful and thriving venture in less than a year. The key factors that contributed to Ratengo’s success include community support, unique menus, high-quality food, an active online presence, excellent customer service, and dedication. Ratengo’s story is a testimony to the growing trend of food truck businesses and the importance of community support in small business growth.
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ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – CBS7’s Small Business Summer with Mary Kate Hamilton is back. For the first week, we’re highlighting a business we featured in last year’s segment that has grown exponentially in just one year. Ratengo’s food truck is located at Blue Barn Coffee Co. in Andrews, TX: 1212 NE Mustang Dr. You can follow them on Facebook for private catering inquiries, food truck hours, specials, and more.
“Just knowing that we had a belief and took a chance and it paid off, man, it’s hard to put it into words to be honest,” said Ratengo chef and founder Raúl Vásquez.
A year ago, in an interview, Vásquez said, “I’m just an ambitious young Chicano from Andrews, Texas.”
That ambitious young man has come a long way in just one year. When we met the Ratengo brothers, they were working part-time building their luxury private catering business.
“He went from me and my brother quitting our jobs to going full-time and now having a full-fledged family business,” Vasquez said. “It’s a blessing to be here.”
“Last time we talked to you, I was working part time, part time at the country club,” chef Marco Salazar said. “This is my full-time job. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
A year later, their catering business is still thriving, and they added a food truck.
“When we were doing everything and we quit our jobs and started being private chefs, a lot of our community here at Andrews was very supportive. And that was me saying, ‘hey, I want to open a food truck here,’” Vásquez said.
But, the more things change, the more they stay the same. They have brought a few more family members.
“My sister Bri over here, my wife is over here, my brother is over here… I have a cousin who works the night shift,” Vásquez said. “Just seeing not only how proud I am of this, but how proud they are too.”
They are still devoted to their hometown of Andrews, Texas.
“It’s like, ‘wow, I grew up here.’ I remember walking down these same streets, and now it’s our food truck here,” Salazar said.
“You know, it’s nice to be in your hometown and see my dad come over for lunch and bring one of his coworkers. They have only been blessings. I can’t say it enough,” Vasquez said.
And they are still dedicated to providing West Texans with a first-rate dining experience.
“The biggest problem I think we have is that we don’t have a lot of options here. We always drive to Midland or Odessa and I just wanted to go back and show the community that if you have a dream, you have a passion, go ahead and do it,” Vasquez said.
“I am very proud. Super proud.”
Ratengo’s next goal is to open a second food truck that will be based in Midland. To see last year’s performance at Ratengo, see here: https://www.cbs7.com/2022/07/06/small-business-summer-west-texas-brothers-bring-fine-dining-your-kitchen-with-ratengo/
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https://www.cbs7.com/2023/06/08/small-business-summer-ratengo-food-truck/?outputType=amp
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