#7 Brian's Hash and Smash Journey – From IT Beginnings to Smash Burger Success with Community and Belief
The Food Truck PodcastShow Notes
In this episode Maggie sits down with Brian, the owner of Hash n Smash, an Auckland-based food truck known for serving up delicious smash burgers. Brian’s journey into the street food world is anything but inspirational. From starting his career studying IT at university and working as a personal trainer to becoming a well known food truck legend in Auckland.
What you'll hear in this episode:
- The leap from personal training to street food: How Brian's career shift led to the founding of Hash and Smash.
- Starting small: Brian’s early days trading from a simple gazebo and the lessons learned from those humble beginnings.
- Building a brand: The story behind creating a custom-designed food truck and how it elevated the Hash and Smash experience.
- Navigating partnerships: Insights into the challenges and eventual separation from a business partner, and what it taught Brian about running a food venture.
- Drawing inspiration from travels: How Brian’s trips to New York and Europe influenced his approach to food and service.
- Challenges of the street food scene: The realities of finding high-quality ingredients, maintaining consistency, and keeping up with customer expectations.
Links Mentioned:
Follow Hash and Smash on Instagram: @hashandsmash
Learn more about Maggie’s Food Truck Foundations Online Course: @foodtruckfoundations
A BIG thank you to our sponsor, Culley’s! Use promo code 'FOODTRUCK' for 25% off at checkout: culleys.co.nz
Don't forget to: Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform and leave us a review to help more food truck enthusiasts find our show! Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and updates: @thefoodtruckpodcast
Stay tuned for our next episode, where we share more stories from the world of street food!
More from The Food Truck Podcast
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Matilda, the creator of @butterbabynz, a brand that has captured hearts (and taste buds) with her creative donuts and nostalgic flavours.
In Episode 11, I’m joined by Nathan and Mulan, the duo behind Lalele Organic Gelato. For over 10 years, they’ve been crafting organic gelato, waffles and smoothies using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Starting with no business plan and learning as they went, Nathan and Mulan built a family-run business that has become a staple of Auckland’s street food scene.
In Episode 10, I’m joined by Elliot, the mastermind behind the Roaming Flamingo Food Truck. From competing on MasterChef to launching a taco truck in just a few months, Elliot shares his whirlwind journey of bringing bold, global flavors to Auckland’s streets.
Welcome back to The Food Truck Podcast! This week, we’re diving into the incredible journey of Sarah and Otis, the masterminds behind The Lucky Taco, one of New Zealand’s first gourmet food trucks which launched back in 2013!
In this episode, Maggie sits down with Adam, founder of Smoothe Operator, a smoothie business known for its quirky personality and refreshing blends. Adam shares his journey of moving from the UK to New Zealand and how a simple hangover craving sparked the idea for his smoothie business. With a mix of humour and authenticity, Adam has crafted a brand that resonates with his Kiwi audience, all while balancing a full-time job and evolving his business in the street food world.