Heron Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Gateshead
Heron Foods 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 10 January 2025, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 187-193 Durham Road, Gateshead, NE9 5EF
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts Heron Foods among the 1,170 places in Gateshead 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 | 1,170 | 81% | ← Heron Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 197 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 202 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 Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo Pizza & Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2024 |
| 101 Regiment Royal Artillery Pub/bar/nightclub | 431 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| A Bit Of A Mouthful Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Aspen Court Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| A&C Bolton Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
| Aldi Stores limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2024 |
| Alderwood Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 November 2024 |
| A Bit of a Treat Limited Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2025 |
Questions about Heron Foods
What is Heron Foods's food hygiene rating?
Heron Foods has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 10 January 2025.
Is Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods last inspected?
Heron Foods was last inspected on 10 January 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Gateshead Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Heron Foods?
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 Heron Foods compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,436 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and Heron Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Gateshead inspects and rates 1,638 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Gateshead →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.gateshead.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 →