Starting a New Food Business
Starting or taking over a
food business can be a daunting prospect. In order to
help, our Environmental Health Service has developed several
website pages offering guidance, access to training and resources.
Key information is as follows:
Food Registration
Registration applies to most types of food business, including
catering businesses run from home and mobile or temporary premises,
such as stalls and vans. Businesses have to register at least 28
days before opening - registration is free. Further details on
how to register is provided on our food registration webpage.
Registration is not only a legal requirement but it gives you an
opportunity to contact our Food Team and receive valuable advice
and guidance.
Scores on the Doors
The Council runs a
popular Scores on the Doors scheme which provides the public a way
of finding out about the food hygiene standards of local food
businesses. Businesses are given a star rating based on how well
they meet food hygiene criteria with the results available on
the Internet. The better the standard, the higher the star
rating.
All businesses inspected by the Council’s Food Officers are
given a score on how well they perform in terms of hygiene,
building structure and overall attitude towards complying with the
law. The scores range from 5 stars (excellent) to no stars (very
poor).
Obviously you will want your business to receive an excellent
rating at its first inspection and therefore we have developed a
Hygiene Questionnaire
56Kb PDF to help you to do this. Remember you must
have addressed these issues before the inspection
in order to secure an excellent star rating.
More information is provided on the Scores on the Doors
webpage.
Food Hygiene Training
An important part of running a food business is ensuring that
you and your staff are properly trained.
The Council provides a range of food hygiene courses. For new
businesses we recommend attendance on our FREE half day seminar on
Scores on the Doors. This provides information on the scheme and
access to food safety resources. Details of this free
course are available on the food hygiene
training webpage.
Those wanting a qualification can attend other courses provided
by the Council. Full details are provided on the Food Hygiene Training
webpage.
Food Safety Management Systems
It is a legal requirement that all food businesses operate a
documented food safety management system. This must be commensurate
with the nature and size of your business.
The Council’s Food Team recommends the Food Standard Agency pack
known as Safer Food Better Business (SFBB). The pack helps you to
develop a food safety management system suited to your own catering
or retail operation. There are a number of SFBB packs available which
are designed to meet the specific needs of different food
businesses. There are packs for small catering businesses, small
retail businesses and restaurants and takeaways that serve
different cuisines, such as Chinese or Indian, Pakistani,
Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan.
This free pack and DVD training video is available via the
Council or from the Food Standard Agency. Further details are
provided on the Safer Food Better Business webpage.
Further Information
A useful Starting a Food Business Booklet has been
developed by the Food Standards Agency, this is available in a
variety of languages and can be downloaded from the Food Standards
Agency website.
Remember to get in touch with us to plan your business and
access training and resources; it could cost you more money if
don’t. It makes good business sense to serve food that is safe to
eat - good food hygiene helps prevent food poisoning and protects
your reputation with customers.
If you would like to speak to a member of the Food Team about
starting or taking over a food business then please contact us
at:
Environmental Health Services, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane,
Ashford TN23 1PL
Telephone: 01233 330470
Email the Environmental Health Team
Fax: 01233 330469
This webpage was updated on
10/22/2009