Why a chip van works for staff
A staff thank-you lunch needs to be simple, popular and fair. Fish and chips ticks all three. It suits office staff, drivers, warehouse teams and site crews alike, it needs no kitchen or meeting room, and it turns an ordinary Friday into something people talk about. A van in the car park also means nobody has to leave site.
Who it suits
- Offices and business parks: a Friday lunch or summer party in the car park
- Warehouses, depots and distribution centres: food for each shift, served in the yard
- Construction sites: a hot lunch for the workforce, subject to site rules
- Schools and hospitals: a staff treat at the end of term or a busy season
- Open days and customer events: something for visitors to queue for
Planning around breaks and shifts
The most important thing to tell your caterer is when people can eat. If everyone has the same lunch hour, the van needs to serve the whole team in that time, so ask how many people it can serve and how quickly. If you work shifts, plan service in waves: one window for the early shift, another for the late shift. Give your caterer a timetable, and say how many people are in each group.
What facilities will ask
Facilities and health and safety teams usually want to know where the van will park, when it arrives and leaves, how it gets on site, whether it needs power or water, how waste and used oil are removed, and what documents the caterer holds, such as public liability insurance and food business registration. Ask your facilities team for their list early and pass it on.
Keeping the queue moving
- Keep the menu short: fish, a sausage or pie option, chips and a couple of sides
- Stagger teams by department or floor
- Put the van where the queue won’t block fire exits or traffic
- Have bins and napkins by the van
- Send a reminder message when the van opens
Dietary needs
Ask staff about allergies and dietary needs in advance, with a simple form. Pass the results on to your caterer in writing. Standard batter contains gluten, and the fish itself is an allergen, so make sure people with allergies know what’s available before they queue.
Ideas to make more of it
- Fish Friday: a monthly or quarterly treat
- End-of-project lunch: marking a big milestone
- Summer party: chips in the car park, lawn games and music
- Christmas lunch: hot food on a cold December day (see Christmas party ideas)
- Customer open day: visitors queue, chat and stay longer
Paying for it
Most companies pay for every meal as a staff treat. Some subsidise it and let staff pay a small amount. Tell your caterer how you want to handle it, and ask how they invoice businesses. Check with your finance team whether the treat has any tax implications; staff entertainment rules vary.
A simple plan for the day
- Agree the date and service times with your caterer and facilities.
- Send a message to staff with the time and a link to an allergy and pre-order form.
- Pass allergies and numbers to the caterer in writing.
- On the day, meet the van, show them the agreed spot and introduce them to facilities.
- Send a reminder when the van opens, and stagger teams if you can.
Making it feel like a thank-you
A staff lunch lands best when it’s clearly a thank-you. Say why you’re doing it: a record month, a tough project finished, the end of the busy season. Senior staff joining the queue and chatting with teams makes a difference. A few tables and chairs outside, or a room nearby to eat in, makes it feel like a proper break.
Different kinds of workplace
Every site is different. An office on a business park usually has a car park and a facilities team. A warehouse has a yard with lorries moving, so the van needs a safe, marked spot away from traffic. A construction site will have its own induction and safety rules for visiting vehicles. A school or hospital has strict access and safeguarding rules. Tell your caterer what kind of site it is, and ask facilities what they need.
Thinking about shift workers
Night shifts and weekend teams often miss out on workplace treats. If you can, plan a second service for them, or a separate date. It shows the thank-you is for everyone.
Keeping it regular
Some companies make a fish and chip lunch a regular event, such as the last Friday of each quarter. It gives people something to look forward to and becomes part of the culture. Ask your caterer about booking a series of dates.
Measuring whether it worked
A staff treat doesn’t need a formal survey, but it’s worth noticing the signs: how many people came, how long they stayed, what they said in the queue. Many teams find a van lunch becomes a regular request. If it went well, book the next one while the date is fresh in everyone’s mind.
Including remote and hybrid staff
If some of your team work from home, choose a day when most people are in the office, and give plenty of notice. A van lunch is a good reason for people to come in, and it helps teams who rarely meet face to face spend time together. Some companies also send a voucher or treat to those who can’t make it, so nobody feels left out.
Quick answers
Can a van serve a whole team in one lunch hour?
It depends on numbers and menu. Tell the caterer your headcount and break times and ask.
Can the van park in our car park?
Usually, with the site’s agreement and a level spot. Facilities will decide where.
Do you need power from the building?
Some vans do, some don’t. Ask your caterer.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll check the date and send a quote.