Ron Simmons – Complete Concessions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVW2KGj3Bw0 Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Complete Concessions, a premier food truck and trailer builder based out of Mount
https://youtu.be/nHb64kMi4Rs
Show Notes:
In this episode, Tim sits down with Brian Stone, CEO & CTO of Premium Sides and co-founder of the food truck Mr. Top Hat’s Tasty Taters.
What started as a father helping his son evaluate the cost of opening a restaurant turned into a deep dive into food truck entrepreneurship, operational strategy, event math, municipal negotiation, and product innovation.
This conversation blends business fundamentals, food truck startup lessons, and tech solutions built specifically for mobile operators.
Brian challenged his son to build a full business plan for a restaurant.
After researching rent, overhead, staffing, and startup costs, the numbers were overwhelming.
A second business plan for a food truck revealed:
Similar workload
Significantly lower overhead
Greater flexibility
Asset ownership instead of long-term lease liability
Lesson: Run the numbers before you commit. The math often clarifies the right starting point.
After moving to St. Cloud, Florida, they encountered resistance toward food trucks.
Instead of reacting emotionally, Brian:
Asked questions
Sought clarity
Identified the city’s real concern (permanent parking-lot setups, not mobile event trucks)
Proposed compliant “mini-event” models
Result:
Approval to operate
Event partnerships with the city
Stronger working relationships
Lesson: Stay curious. Understand the rule before fighting it.
Brian emphasizes:
Not all 1,000-person events are profitable.
If 1,000 attendees are split among 8 trucks, realistic sales projections shrink fast.
Fuel, prep time, labor, generator costs, and opportunity cost must be factored in.
Strategy:
Negotiate hybrid models (minimum + revenue share).
Align incentives with event organizers.
Adjust minimums based on timing and demand.
Lesson: Event math beats ego every time.
Mr. Top Hat’s Tasty Taters specializes in:
French fries
Tater tots
Baked potatoes
Potato-based desserts
House-made potato ice cream (including sweet potato & peppermint variations)
Truck design intentionally included:
Extra burners
Larger hot tables
Expansion flexibility for future pivots
Lesson: Build for today, but allow room for tomorrow.
Brian applied manufacturing and telecom process-flow thinking to truck layout:
Minimize steps
Avoid crossing paths
Create zones
Physically mock up layout before building
Advice:
Talk to multiple builders
Research equipment thoroughly
Plan longer than you think
Don’t rush build decisions
Lesson: Layout efficiency impacts profit more than people realize.
At their first event:
POS connected fine at home base
Two miles away → zero internet
Had to tether manually
Risked lost transactions
Brian discovered:
No company specifically focused on food truck connectivity
Offline POS payments carry risk
DoorDash/Uber Eats require stable connections
One device
AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile in a single box
AI-driven automatic carrier switching
Ruggedized hardware built for mobile environments
Plans from $25/month to high-data enterprise tiers
Benefits:
Reduces offline payment risk
Maintains DoorDash/Uber connectivity
Avoids manual toggling between networks
Problem:
Standard commercial fridge clips bend.
Shelves collapse during transit.
Food avalanche on arrival.
Solution:
3D-printed, food-safe PETG reinforcement insert.
Wire tie locking system prevents clip pop-out.
Dramatically increases load stability.
Available via: PremiumSides.com (Amazon coming soon)
Custom-built (not cookie-cutter templates)
$250 build
$20/month hosting
Designed specifically for food truck needs
Focused on legitimacy, clarity, and simplicity
Dedicated truck phone number
Call routing
After-hours voicemail protection
IVR options for catering, management, etc.
Creates professionalism without constant personal interruptions
Rather than maximizing profit through delivery apps:
Marked up pricing appropriately
Treated DoorDash as a marketing channel
Inserted physical coupons in orders
Designed multi-step return incentive strategy
Focused on converting customers to direct orders
Lesson: Use third-party platforms strategically, not emotionally.
Not every customer will love your food — don’t overcorrect.
Stay calm with municipalities.
Negotiate intelligently with event organizers.
Research before spending.
Overbuild slightly for flexibility.
Protect your revenue systems.
Run full financial projections before choosing restaurant vs truck.
Mock up your truck layout physically before finalizing design.
Don’t rely on single-carrier internet at events.
Reinforce fridge shelves before they fail.
Treat delivery apps as marketing tools, not just revenue streams.
Stay collaborative — it opens doors.
Premium Sides
Connectivity systems, Shelf Saver, food truck websites, phone services
https://premiumsides.com
Mr. Top Hat’s Tasty Taters
St. Cloud, Florida
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVW2KGj3Bw0 Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Complete Concessions, a premier food truck and trailer builder based out of Mount
https://youtu.be/0oghbo8qYbQ Show Notes: Introduction In this interview, Tim (Food Truck Insight) sits down with the founders of a rapidly growing waffle truck business to unpack how they
https://youtu.be/nG2fZRb2SjA Show Notes: Introduction In this in-depth conversation, Tim Tobitsch (Food Truck Insight) sits down with Ricci Minella, a Pittsburgh-area restaurateur and food truck veteran,
