Entrepreneurs of the Streets: an Analytical Work on the Street Food Vendors of Dhaka City

Abstract

Street food vending is a prevailing and distinctive part of a large informal sector in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. The paper attempts to gain insight into the business of street food vendors: highlight the problem areas and identify some key factors that positively affect their sales revenue. Using factor analysis as a tool, four major problem areas for the street food vendors have been identified. The problem areas are related to business operation, business knowledge, extortion, and product and production. Through regression analysis, it has been found that business experience, and initial capital is two key factors that positively affect sales revenue. Formal education, however, does not have any significant impact on business performance. The paper also comes to the conclusion that lack of security and problems in the supply of raw materials are two major problems as perceived by the vendors.

Evaluation of Street Food Vending in Ozamiz City

“…This might be because mobility limits the amount of food that is carried due to the weight of goods and the majority of the vendors were female. Similar results were reported in Ghana (Mensah et al Singapore (Acho-chi, 2002) and Dhaka (Muzaffar, 2009) in which most of the vending units were stationary. People bought street foods held in open or protected structures.…”

“…The survey noted that majority of countries reported contamination of food that contributes to food-borne disease (Donkor, 2009;Bhowmik, 2005). This was partly due to the fact that infrastructure development was relatively limited, with restricted access to potable water, toilets, refrigeration and washing and waste disposal facilities (Muzaffar, 2009). Moreover, registration, training and medical examinations were not among the selected management strategies (Martins, 2006).…”

Faeco-oral parasitic infection in street food vendors in Tamale, Ghana

“…Street foods are appreciated for their unique flavors, convenience, accessibility, affordability and the role they play in the socio -cultural heritage of societies (Muzaffar et al, 2009). It is also important and essential for maintaining nutritional status of populations (Muzaffar et al, 2009). The street food industry is easy to operate, depending on structures constructed with cheap local technology and does not require any certificate to operate (Muzaffar et al, 2009).…”

“…It is also important and essential for maintaining nutritional status of populations (Muzaffar et al, 2009). The street food industry is easy to operate, depending on structures constructed with cheap local technology and does not require any certificate to operate (Muzaffar et al, 2009). In the siting of the industry basic environmental sanitation and hygiene conditions of the area of operation, availability of toilet facilities and potable water are often not considered.…”

“…Street foods are appreciated for their unique flavors, convenience, accessibility, affordability and the role they play in the socio -cultural heritage of societies (Muzaffar et al, 2009). It is also important and essential for maintaining nutritional status of populations (Muzaffar et al, 2009).…”