No matter your age, there’s a sugar fix for you here.
“Kids love all the sour graffiti, the Slime Lickers, the Double Sour Drops, the Baby Bottle Pops, but the grown-ups like the Necco Wafers, they like the M and M’s, we have lots of flavors of M and M’s,” said Jennifer Rich of the offerings at the Candy Zoo Truck.
What You Need To Know
- Candy Zoo Truck is a mobile business that sells all types of Candy in New York City
- The business was started by three Manhattan moms around Halloween 2022
- The trio bought a 1997 Volkswagen Truck and had it fabricated and painted pink to start the business
- The truck parks on the streets of city neighborhoods and also does parties and various types of events
It’s a business she started with lifelong friend Karen Benett and another fellow mom, Tina Plagos. They hatched the sweet plan during the pandemic, with thoughts of opening a candy store.
“The rents were too high, so we figured mobile, candy, truck, we can bring it to you,” said Rich.
They found a 1997 Volkswagen Truck, had it fabricated and painted pink, and they were off and running, along with their trusty driver and operations manager Hermano Santos.
Plagos has experience with mobile food. Her family operates three Greek food trucks in addition to their restaurants.
“When they told me about the candy truck idea, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I love this idea, I’m on board.’ It’s fun, we’re three moms, and we wanted to start something new and nurture that and it’s been great so far one year in,” said Plagos.
Of course starting a business is never easy, Benett says at first they wondered, is this going to work?
“We both said to each other, ‘This is insane. I don’t understand why we are doing this.’ But we took a chance,” said Benett.
And it paid off. The truck has been popular, whether parked on the streets or at various types of parties and events.
They also have a philanthropic arm, appearing at free at events for Ronald McDonald House.
Deana Thomas of the Upper East Side was pleasantly surprised to find the truck parked in her neighborhood with some familiar items inside.
“A lot of the old time candy that I saw growing up and eating while I was growing up, so I want to get some for my boys,” said Thomas.
The three moms say they would love to franchise the business but are focusing now on their truck.
Rich says they wanted to have something small, let it grow and learn as they go along.