Central England Co-op food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · East Suffolk
Central England Co-op holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the supermarket that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 15 January 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 19 Ashburnham Way, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, NR33 9EJ
How it compares in East Suffolk
A 2 is rare: only 22 of 2,318 rated places in East Suffolk score this low, about one in 105. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,994 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ← Central England Co-op | |
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 201 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Central England Co-op the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Central England Co-op, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deans Beans Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
| East Coast Community Healthcare At Carlton Court Hospital Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Carlton Hall Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2026 |
| Carlton Colville Service STN Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 January 2010 |
| Central England Cooperative Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Bushells Bakery & Post Office Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
| Capital Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2026 |
| Carlton Marshes Visitor Centre Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2025 |
Questions about Central England Co-op
What is Central England Co-op's food hygiene rating?
Central England Co-op has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by East Suffolk Council on 15 January 2026.
Is Central England Co-op safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The supermarket is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Central England Co-op last inspected?
Central England Co-op was last inspected on 15 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Central England Co-op?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Central England Co-op compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,318 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while Central England Co-op holds a 2. 22 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Central England Co-op and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Central England Co-op and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at East Suffolk, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: East Suffolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Central England Co-op is one of 573 rated food businesses in Lowestoft. See every hygiene rating in Lowestoft →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →