FAQ's for Food & Drink Stallholders

When can I apply?

How do I apply?

What happens when I apply?

Once you complete your application, you will receive TWO (2) forms of confirmation.

Firstly a message will be displayed once you submit your application on our website, which states your application has been successfully sent. During times of high-traffic on the website, there can be slight delays with this part of the process. Please be patient once you've pressed submit, and allow a couple of minutes for your confirmation. Don't click away or hit refresh.

In addition, you will receive an email advising that your application form has been received by us. Sometimes email servers choose to mark our important emails as Spam. Please check your junk mail if you're still waiting to hear from us just in case that's what's happened. If you do not receive a confirmation you are welcome to contact us via markets@thefinderskeepers.com to confirm that your application has been received.

We receive a LOT of applications to process. Please be patient with us; we believe in giving every application a thorough read through and the time that it deserves.

We endeavour to have responded to all applicants two (2) weeks after the applications closing date. During peak times however, it may take longer, sometimes three to four weeks. All results are sent directly to applicants via email, so it is imperative that your supplied email address is current. If you haven't heard from us please be patient. We will be in touch when results are available. We understand that you are keen to find out, however please do not email us to ask as this creates additional workload and only delays us further.

Please note we reply to every application that has been sent. If you have not received an email reply after four (4) weeks of the application closing date, please email us. Again, for this reason, it is vital that all of the contact details on your application form are 100% correct.

Can I get feedback on my application?

Who can apply and what can I sell at the markets?

Ready to eat, Ready to Drink: Food can be prepared either offsite or onsite. Food is served for onsite consumption, including hot food, sweets, smoothies, baked goods etc. Food can be prepared and heated on site - please note: no BBQ, gas or flame-based cooking is permitted in Melbourne.

Food and Drink Products: Food and Drink are prepared offsite and packed as a take home product, i.e. relishes, chocolates, muesli, tea, bottled juices, non-alcoholic beverages etc.
Liquor Product/s: Liquor products are prepared offsite and packed as a take home product. Liquor products consist of producers, such as winemakers, brewers and distillers.
Food Trucks: A successful application permits the preparation and sale of food on site, including a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options and non-alcoholic beverages.

We prefer businesses that are experienced in trading with food at markets or festivals, or a local businesses aiming to connect with new customers.

Things to consider:

There is no GAS allowed onsite
Food Truck / Ready to Eat (RTE) stalls are not permitted to use gas of any kind or any open flames cooking in their truck or marquee
RTE stalls that are cooking onsite are required to have protective walling, roof and flooring under their stall to protect the REB floorboards

I got in! What next?

If you are a successful applicant, you will be sent an acceptance email. This email will include all of the necessary details regarding payments, and other information.

Once payment is received in full, your participation in the event is considered fully confirmed.

One of the images from your application will be chosen to announce your involvement in the line-up posts through our media channels, and we will also provide you with promotional tips and collateral to help with your own marketing efforts.

As the event date approaches, you will receive several emails containing very important information. This includes such details as stall allocation, floor plans, bump-in and bump-out process and other details. It is a condition of inclusion as a stallholder to the Finders Keepers that you read, understand and comply with the provided information.

What if I have to cancel my application?

If you need to cancel your application before the approval stage, you may email us to let us know and we will remove your application from our database.

Once an offer to participate in the markets is sent cancellation fees begin to apply.

If offered a position you will have 7 days to accept this offer. If your offer is not accepted by this time it will be withdrawn and offered to a stallholder on the waitlist.

To accept your offer you will be required to pay a 20% deposit. This deposit is non-refundable. Any cancellations made following acceptance of the offer will forfeit the 20% deposit fee.

Should you cancel between 6 weeks and 3 weeks prior to our event, this will result in a forfeiture of 50% of the stall fees paid by the stallholder. If your stall fees have not been paid you will still be liable to pay 50%.

Cancellations occurring less than three weeks prior, stall fees are non-refundable.

Should you choose not to comply with our cancellation terms, your future applications for stalls at the Finders Keepers will not be considered.

How much is a stall and what is included?

Food Stallholders and Food Trucks receive three (3) days stall hire with additional hours of trading pre-event (for stallholders and onsite staff). Please note: Food stall applications do not include any furniture / walls, marquees and display materials. You are required to supply your own set-up or alternatively, you can hire some items through us. Stall prices vary and can be found on the Apply Page under Options & Fees.

Coolrooms, Power (non-inclusive sites) and Power upgrades can also be hired at additional cost.

We provide seating, fencing, security, cleaning and access to electricity and/or water if requested.

Power requests:

Small Power Package: 1 - 2 outlets (10 amps): $155
Medium Power Package: 3 - 5 outlets (a mixture of 10 and 15 amps): $250
Large Power Package: 6 - 10 outlets (a mixture of 10 and 15amps): $330

Things to consider:

There is no GAS allowed onsite
Food Truck / Ready to Eat (RTE) stalls are not permitted to use gas of any kind or any open flames cooking in their truck or marquee
RTE stalls that are cooking onsite are required to have protective walling, roof and flooring under their stall to protect the REB floorboards

What are the trading hours?

All Ready to Eat, Ready to Drink food stalls and trucks must begin trading prior to opening hours in order to cater for our stallholders and crew. We do not offer half days, or only partial bookings. Applications for each market require the following hours of availability for food trucks. Food product stalls are only required to trade during open and close times of the event.

Food & Liquor product stalls also need to close 30 minutes prior to the event closing time to assist with security, fencing, crowd control etc.

The official event hours are:

Friday 4pm – 9pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm

However, our stallholders need to eat too! And they sure appreciate it when they can get in before the shopping crowd arrives. As such we allow food stalls to open early to serve the several hundred stallholders at events. As a result food trading hours differ slightly from event hours, see below:

Food trading hours:

Friday: 3pm - 8:30pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9am - 4:30pm

For food trucks there is no opportunity to bump out at the end of any of the market days until the Sunday evening bump out. Please ensure your truck is fully equipped for the 3 days of the event.

The Finders Keepers