A food van in Monmouthshire faces backlash for its unconventional promotional strategies involving children and item swaps.
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A food van in Monmouthshire, operated by Kyle Gettings, has sparked controversy after reports emerged that he paid children to eat burgers on camera as part of a promotional strategy. This incident was discussed during a recent council licensing meeting, where concerns about the ethics of his business practices were raised.
Gettings, who has amassed over 250,000 followers on social media through his engaging food vlogs, defended his actions by claiming they were taken out of context.
What happened at the council meeting?
During a Monmouthshire Council meeting last week, members debated whether to grant retrospective permission for Gettings to serve alcohol from his food van.
Labour councillor Sue Riley accused him of employing questionable tactics to generate content for his social media channels. The controversy focused on Gettings paying children to participate in food challenges, particularly a burger challenge where financial incentives were offered.
Gettings explained, “What they were referring to was the burger challenge.
There were five children eating the ten-stack burger between them, and if they completed the challenge, I would give them £100 between them.” He characterized the event as harmless fun, detailing how the children involved would lose some of the prize money for each friend they included in the challenge.
Community concerns and swap days
However, not all community members viewed these activities as innocent. Councillor Riley highlighted that some locals expressed concerns about the implications of the swap events held at the van. Gettings acknowledged allowing customers to trade various items for food, which raised eyebrows when reports surfaced that some exchanged items were of questionable value or potentially stolen.
“A lot of people can’t afford to eat right now, and we decided to create fun activities where they could eat for free,” Gettings stated. He mentioned instances where customers brought items like traffic cones and car tires in exchange for burgers, asserting, “We always check to make sure the kids have run things past their parents.” Yet, one incident involving a gaming controller led to police involvement after a parent claimed it was stolen.
Impact on the business and future plans
Despite the backlash, Gettings remains committed to operating his business as is, expressing confidence in the support of his followers. “Thousands of people love us, the local kids love us,” he remarked. He also addressed noise complaints raised by locals, assuring that steps had been taken to mitigate disturbances and that these issues would not continue.
The couple’s rise to fame on social media has been notable, celebrating 100,000 TikTok followers by giving away free food. Gettings acknowledged the financial success of his venture, attributing it to the influence of social media, stating, “Social media has changed our life. It’s mental what it’s done for us.” As the community navigates the implications of his unconventional methods, Gettings remains focused on maintaining his business’s integrity and expanding his reach.
