By Fahd Bin Jolaid
Al-Jazirah
TWO groups of people fail in their lives. People in the first group will think a lot but do not apply their ideas in their lives. On the other hand, people in the second group will do things without any forethought.
I hope this statement does not apply to food truck owner, some of whom have their projects either disrupted or closed down. They are making strenuous efforts to develop their projects and keep them running.
Food trucks are mushrooming all over the Kingdom, especially in the main cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. Young Saudis operate these food trucks as selling snacks and beverages offered them a good opportunity to earn a living.
What I fear is the social empathy toward this kind of business run by young Saudis could dwindle as a result of the competition posed by fast food chains and five-star cafes.
In order to face the competition food truck owners must supply their products at reasonable and competitive prices. In the absence of unified prices, such a move is essential to ensure the continuity of their business.
Selling Saudi-made food and drinks at more than 50 percent of the prices offered five-star cafes and restaurants is not an economically healthy trend. In fact it will have a negative impact on Saudi businesses because people will stop purchasing their products and the young Saudi entrepreneurs will be forced to close their projects.
I believe that young Saudis should be given every support to run food truck projects without incurring losses, considering it as a national project to reduce unemployment among Saudis.
Young Saudi men and women have proved their capabilities to realize the impossible. If they bring down the prices of various food items being sold through the food trucks to reasonable levels, equal to those supplied by restaurants and cafes, it will not only ensure the success of the venture but also its continuity.
I am sure that such a realistic step will lead to the opening of more such ventures across the Kingdom and draw more Saudi customers whose first choice will be to support Saudi food trucks and courts.
My first choice will be the young Saudi vendors when it comes to purchasing food as long as they supply hygienic and quality food because I have a duty to support them and boost their business and morale.
This is a great feeling and in order to maintain this feeling and support from people like me, young Saudis must bring down prices of their products to reasonable levels. By doing so they send a message to customers that they want to continue this business, realizing their mutual interests.
At the same time, there are people who exploit the situation to make money. They train foreigners to work in their shops and trucks. There are others who sell burgers charging prices 150 percent more than others, citing they run Saudi-only shops and trucks.
But I wonder whether such statements will be enough to justify the high prices in this world of competition?
This reminds us of Saudi families who run cottage industries with the support of foreign workers and charge high prices. These productive families call for public support to maintain their business.
In both cases success will follow those people who think and work and respect the thinking power of others.
