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BUSINESS
MOBILE PAYMENTS
Text by STEPHEN EVANS
Photography by MIKE ZENARI
CASH ON YOUR PHONE Will paper cash ever die out? A Luxembourg firm has an electronic solution it hopes will change the way we pay.
LUXEMBOURG FOOD TRUCK ASSOCIATION: ON FACEBOOK
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here is nothing like a nice greasy sausage for a quick snack, but for lunch you’ll want something more refined. This is where food trucks come in. They are mobile restaurants offering well prepared, well cooked fast food made from wholesome, fresh ingredients. Preparation is carried out either entirely or partially onsite. “Currently we have five fixed locations per week in and around Luxembourg City,” said Greggory Hell of So Food. Mainly his food truck serves business parks such the Kirchberg, the Cloche d’Or and Bourmicht, offering high quality burgers with home made sauces and refined cheeses. “So you see we have nothing in common with bakeries on wheels or hot dog stands,” he commented. Right now there are five food trucks in this country, and Hell believes that number will increase over coming years because demand is strong. Already So Food will be adding a second food truck in the autumn, with this one offering high quality Vietnamese cooking plus also wraps and crêpes. For somebody passionate about cooking but with a yen to get out of the kitchen, this is the ideal solution. Hell is such a fan of the concept that he founded the Luxembourg Food Truck Association. “Our aim is to simplify getting permits because at the moment we are not allowed to park in public locations,” he explained. “Another important aim is to create a quality charter to protect the image of the food trucks from those who would offer inadequate food,” he added.
E-CASH SYSTEM Security is also another concern for his industry, particularly the temptation Summer 2015
MOBILE DINING Quality (and paying) can be quick and convenient
to thieves of a truck with a till full of cash. This is one reason why Hell is a fan of the Yapital e-cash system. Customers create an account online and then top it up with a credit card. To pay, they simply scan a QR code on the till with their smartphone and the cash is then credited to the vendor’s account. This system is quicker than previous e-cash systems. Yapital is a Luxembourg firm, with the service available in outlets here and in Germany. As well as liking the security and convenience for his own business, Hell likes using it when out shopping. “Like most men, I never have any
change on me,” he joked. “So, for small amounts, it really annoys me when I can’t pay with my card and have to go to the nearest cash machine. That’s why I chose to accept Yapital as a payment option because I know my customers also want that flexibility.” He prizes flexibility because that is at the heart of his business. “I sometimes dream of setting up my food truck in the capitals of the world, such as New York, London, Hong Kong or Bangkok,” he said. “And because I come from the south of France and I’d love to have a food truck facing the sea one day.”