Thousands of people attend Whitehorse Festival Season each year, and you could be a part of the fun as one of our food vendors. Council produces a number of events as part of the Whitehorse Festival Season and we require a variety of food and beverage vendors to attend these events.

Selected vendors will suit a range of criteria and any decisions made are for the benefit of the event, however, due to the large number of applications we receive not all vendors who apply will be successful. We ask that you submit a detailed application to help us through this process.

To continually support community and local not-for-profit groups, commercial food vendors will be selected once suitable community and not-for-profit spaces have been allocated.

Selection Criteria

Council receives a high volume of applications each year. To ensure a fair and transparent selection process, all food vendors are assessed against the following criteria.

Eligibility – Mandatory Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, all applications must:

  • Hold current (at time of event) Public Liability Insurance of at least $20 million
  • Hold a valid FoodTrader registration
  • Comply with the Victorian ban on single-use plastics
  • Agree to follow Council's event procedures
  • Have a reliable attendance record (vendors with a history of late arrivals or no-shows may not be considered)
What We're Looking For

Once eligibility is confirmed, applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria. You do not need to meet every point, but the more criteria your application meets, the stronger it will be.

Menu and Affordability

  • A menu that offers variety and helps create a balanced mix across the event
  • Affordable pricing options that consider current cost-of-living pressures
  • Options that cater to dietary needs or cultural preferences (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, halal)

Sustainability

  • Use of sustainable practices beyond minimum requirements (e.g. sourcing local products, donating unused food items)

Diversity and Local Representation

  • A business based within the City of Whitehorse
  • A business that reflects or celebrates cultural diversity
  • A not-for-profit, community organisation or social enterprise

Professionalism and Engagement

  • A professional and visually appealing set-up
  • Willingness to promote their attendance at Whitehorse events