Rita's African Caribbean Food Store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Test Valley
Rita's African Caribbean Food Store holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The shop met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 4 June 2025, 13 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: 1 Waterloo Court, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1QJ
How it compares in Test Valley
In Test Valley, 88% of rated places manage a 5, so Rita's African Caribbean Food Store sits behind roughly 937 nearby businesses. 2% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 858 | 88% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 79 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ← Rita's African Caribbean Food Store | |
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 110 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Rita's African Caribbean Food Store none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Rita's African Caribbean Food Store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireaway Andover Takeaway/sandwich shop | 28 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
| Grilled Cheese Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 28 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Andover Variety Store Retailers - other | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Copper Mahal Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Globe (Pub) Pub/bar/nightclub | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Cafe Bridge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
Questions about Rita's African Caribbean Food Store
What is Rita's African Caribbean Food Store's food hygiene rating?
Rita's African Caribbean Food Store has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Test Valley Council on 4 June 2025.
Is Rita's African Caribbean Food Store safe to eat at?
A 3 means the shop met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Rita's African Caribbean Food Store last inspected?
Rita's African Caribbean Food Store was last inspected on 4 June 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Test Valley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Rita's African Caribbean Food Store?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Rita's African Caribbean Food Store compare to other places in Test Valley?
88% of the 971 rated food businesses in Test Valley hold the top rating of 5, while Rita's African Caribbean Food Store holds a 3. 22 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Test Valley Council inspects Rita's African Caribbean Food Store 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 Rita's African Caribbean Food Store and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Rita's African Caribbean Food Store is one of 368 rated food businesses in Andover. See every hygiene rating in Andover →
Test Valley inspects and rates 1,081 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Test Valley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.testvalley.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 →