Heron Foods Ltd food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · South Tyneside
Heron Foods Ltd holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the supermarket are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 26 October 2023, more than 2 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: Heron Foods, 351-353 Prince Edward Road, South Shields, NE34 7LZ
How it compares in South Tyneside
In South Tyneside, 74% of rated places manage a 5, so Heron Foods Ltd sits behind roughly 721 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 721 | 74% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 17% | ← Heron Foods Ltd | |
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 63 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Ltd 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 Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffe Di Bella Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| Bargain Booze Select Convenience Mobile caterer | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Caffe Mio Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| CAF8 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 355 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 December 2025 |
| Carden Avenue Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2017 |
| Cleadon Tower Nursery School Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| CJC Food Supplies Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2026 |
| Cheviot Court Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
Questions about Heron Foods Ltd
What is Heron Foods Ltd's food hygiene rating?
Heron Foods Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by South Tyneside Council on 26 October 2023.
Is Heron Foods Ltd safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this supermarket to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Heron Foods Ltd last inspected?
Heron Foods Ltd was last inspected on 26 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Tyneside Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Heron Foods Ltd?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Ltd compare to other places in South Tyneside?
74% of the 975 rated food businesses in South Tyneside hold the top rating of 5, while Heron Foods Ltd holds a 4. 164 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Tyneside Council inspects Heron Foods Ltd 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 Ltd and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Heron Foods Ltd is one of 925 rated food businesses in Tyne & Wear. See every hygiene rating in Tyne & Wear →
South Tyneside inspects and rates 1,038 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Tyneside →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southtyneside.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 →