Balkanika Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Maidstone
Balkanika Foods holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: Balkanika Foods was inspected on 28 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
94% of rated food businesses in Maidstone score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Maidstone ratings →
Address: Oakdene Farm, Leeds Road, Sutton Valence, ME17 3LT
How this rating has changed
Balkanika Foods has improved: it was rated 1 before its inspection on 28 July 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2026 | 1 5 | Improved |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts Balkanika Foods among the 1,147 places in Maidstone holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,147 | 83% | ← Balkanika Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 158 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 57 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 66 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 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 Balkanika 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 Balkanika Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murco/Shay Service Station Retailers - other | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 February 2007 |
| Sutton End Caring Premises | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Sutton Valence Care Home Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| Sunrise Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2026 |
| Sutton Valence Preparatory School/Little Lambs Nursery (2-11 School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Sutton Valence Pre School Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2023 |
Questions about Balkanika Foods
What is Balkanika Foods's food hygiene rating?
Balkanika Foods has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 28 July 2026.
Is Balkanika 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Balkanika Foods last inspected?
Balkanika Foods was last inspected on 28 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Balkanika Foods?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Balkanika Foods compare to other places in Maidstone?
83% of the 1,386 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and Balkanika Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects Balkanika 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 Balkanika 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
Balkanika Foods is one of 17 rated food businesses in Sutton Valence. See every hygiene rating in Sutton Valence →
Maidstone inspects and rates 1,452 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maidstone →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maidstone.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 →