Sunshine Coast food truck Jup Jup owner lands Blackflag Brewing deal

After pouring nearly all of her money into an $80,000 food intolerance-friendly food truck, a Sunshine Coast woman has scored the perfect business deal.

Jup Jup founder Amanda Joy. Photo: Supplied.

A solo mum who went all in on an $80,000 food truck serving coeliac-friendly comfort food says she is thrilled to land a permanent site at a popular brewery after struggling with unstable trade.

Forest Glen woman Amanda Joy, 41, opened food truck Jup Jup in January last year, serving “cheeky” Asian-style comfort food – from loaded fries to katsu fried chicken – using gluten and dairy-free ingredients.

The mum-of-two, who previously catered from Brisbane to Noosa, has now landed a permanent site at Blackflag Brewing‘s brewhouse in Coolum Beach.

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Before linking up with the brewery, Ms Joy, a former finance broker, went all in on her food truck, spending $80,000 to start it up.

“When I opened the doors, I had zero cents in my bank account,” she said.

Jup Jup founder Amanda Joy. Photo: Supplied.

Ms Joy, a coeliac who was passionate about food, said she wanted to open an eatery with a coeliac-safe kitchen, making gluten and dairy-free “comfort” food for everyone, especially those with intolerances.

“It’s the kind of stuff people miss out on,” she said.

She said her food was now going down a treat but it wasn’t easy and at one point she considered calling it quits.

She said there were times where she paid site fees and bought stock for events, only to discover there were fewer attendees than expected.

Jup Jup's new menu under its rebranded name, The Roadhouse. Photo: Supplied.

“It’s taken a lot … to push forward and bounce back,” she said.

Ms Joy, who grew up on a cattle farm in Darling Downs, said it was a bit of a lifesaver to secure the permanent spot at the brewery because it gave her consistent trade.

She would now be rebranding her eatery’s name to The Roadhouse and offer a new, “absolute hit” American-style menu, but still with gluten and dairy-free ingredients.

Blackflag Brewing co-founder Steve Barber said he has been inundated with good food from food trucks at his brewery in Coolum but partnered with Ms Joy because she was a “great” person, had tasty food, and wanted stability and change.

“It’s good, classy pub food,” he said.

Black flag Brewing co-owner Steve Barber at his new brewhouse in Coolum. Picture: supplied.