Heron Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Durham
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 25 February 2025, 16 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: 10 Beveridge Way, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4DP
How it compares in Durham
That puts Heron Foods among the 3,087 places in Durham holding top marks, 75% 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 | 3,087 | 75% | ← Heron Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 683 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 512 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bargain Buys Retailers - other | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 August 2021 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| Cafe HQ Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| Pizza Cottage - Cuccina Takeaway/sandwich shop | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Mike's Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Spice Village Takeaway/sandwich shop | 37 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Krums Sandwich Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2026 |
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 89 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2024 |
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 Durham Council on 25 February 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 25 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Durham 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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Heron Foods compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Heron Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham 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.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Heron Foods is one of 160 rated food businesses in Newton Aycliffe. See every hygiene rating in Newton Aycliffe →
Durham inspects and rates 4,645 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Durham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.durham.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 →