NAMA Clarifies Stance on Mobile Food Vendors

The North Andover Merchants Association is setting the record straight about their stance in the brick-and-mortar vs. food trucks debate -- more specifically that NAMA is not taking a stance.

NAMA President Sylvie Foulds sent out a statement emphasizing the local business organization's neutrality in an issue that has been gaining steam in recent months.

"It is the position of the North Andover Merchants Association [NAMA] to support all businesses in town. We are dedicated to ensure 'fair business practices for all.' We would like to see that all businesses, whether members of NAMA or not, are allowed to grow and sustain their businesses fairly in North Andover.

We look to work with town officials along with the brick and mortar businesses and food trucks to develop regulations that benefit the businesses, the town and our residents."

The statement comes after the recent Board of Selectmen meeting in which the board discussed possible new regulations of mobile food vendors.

At that meeting, several local business owners spoke to selectmen about the impact mobile food vendors may have on their sales, and some mobile food vendors attended and spoke out against what they saw as oppressive regulation suggestions.

There were comments made by members of NAMA that suggested they were leaning toward opposing the food trucks, even though Pipe Dream Cupcakes, a mobile cupcake company owned by Nadine Levin, is a member of NAMA.