The Food Warehouse food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Harlow
The Food Warehouse holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 4 December 2019, more than 6 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 5 The Oaks Retail Park, Howard Way, Harlow, CM20 2AB
How it compares in Harlow
That puts The Food Warehouse among the 497 places in Harlow holding top marks, 81% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 497 | 81% | ← The Food Warehouse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 78 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 76 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
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 The Food Warehouse 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 The Food Warehouse, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Factory Retailers - other | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Burgermaster - Mobile Mobile caterer | 316 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2024 |
| Cineworld Cinemas Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 330 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
| Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 330 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 August 2021 |
| Currys Retailers - other | 330 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| B&M Store Retailers - other | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| Burnt Mill Academy School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Carlucie Catering Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2024 |
Questions about The Food Warehouse
What is The Food Warehouse's food hygiene rating?
The Food Warehouse has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Harlow Council on 4 December 2019.
Is The Food Warehouse safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Food Warehouse last inspected?
The Food Warehouse was last inspected on 4 December 2019, more than 6 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Harlow Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Food Warehouse?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Food Warehouse compare to other places in Harlow?
81% of the 611 rated food businesses in Harlow hold the top rating of 5, and The Food Warehouse is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Harlow Council inspects The Food Warehouse 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 The Food Warehouse and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Harlow inspects and rates 687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Harlow →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.harlow.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 →