Universal Foods NI Ltd food hygiene rating
Distributors/Transporters · Ards and North Down
Universal Foods NI Ltd holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the distributor 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 14 February 2025, 17 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: Lansdowne Road, Newtownards, BT23 4NT
How it compares in Ards and North Down
In Ards and North Down, 82% of rated places manage a 5, so Universal Foods NI Ltd sits behind roughly 948 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 948 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 13% | ← Universal Foods NI Ltd | |
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 118 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 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 Universal Foods NI 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 Universal Foods NI Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ards Rugby Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2023 |
| Centra - Westwinds Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2023 |
| Little Doves Childcare Centre Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Blair House Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Cars & Coffee Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Hara at Home Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Capparelli Cooks Manufacturers/packers | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Indie Füde - Full Metal Jackets Mobile caterer | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
Questions about Universal Foods NI Ltd
What is Universal Foods NI Ltd's food hygiene rating?
Universal Foods NI Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 14 February 2025.
Is Universal Foods NI 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 distributor to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Universal Foods NI Ltd last inspected?
Universal Foods NI Ltd was last inspected on 14 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ards and North Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Universal Foods NI 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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Universal Foods NI Ltd compare to other places in Ards and North Down?
82% of the 1,155 rated food businesses in Ards and North Down hold the top rating of 5, while Universal Foods NI Ltd holds a 4. 155 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Universal Foods NI 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 Universal Foods NI 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
Universal Foods NI Ltd is one of 58 rated food businesses in Newtownards. See every hygiene rating in Newtownards →
Ards and North Down inspects and rates 1,273 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ards and North Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ardsandnorthdown.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 →