The Southern Co-operative food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Maidstone
The Southern Co-operative 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
This is a fresh result: The Southern Co-operative was inspected on 20 August 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: 8 Faversham Road, Lenham, Kent, ME17 2PN
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Southern Co-operative
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How this rating has changed
The Southern Co-operative was re-inspected on 20 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 20 August 2026 | AwaitingInspection 5 | Held |
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 The Southern Co-operative 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% | ← The Southern Co-operative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 The Southern Co-operative 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 The Southern Co-operative, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerhouse Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 111 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2026 |
| The Bow Window Cafe And Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2026 |
| The Dog And Bear Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2025 |
| The Red Lion Pub/bar/nightclub | 144 yards away | 4 - Good | 19 November 2025 |
| Lenham Village Stores Retailers - other | 144 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 17 July 2026 |
| Saxon Warrior Pharmacy Retailers - other | 144 yards away | Exempt | |
| The Square Fish Cafe Takeaway/sandwich shop | 183 yards away | 4 - Good | 13 October 2025 |
| Home Bake Retailers - other | 183 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 March 2026 |
Questions about The Southern Co-operative
What is The Southern Co-operative's food hygiene rating?
The Southern Co-operative has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 20 August 2026.
Is The Southern Co-operative 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 The Southern Co-operative last inspected?
The Southern Co-operative was last inspected on 20 August 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Southern Co-operative?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 The Southern Co-operative compare to other places in Maidstone?
83% of the 1,386 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and The Southern Co-operative is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects The Southern Co-operative 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 The Southern Co-operative 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
The Southern Co-operative is one of 19 rated food businesses in Lenham. See every hygiene rating in Lenham →
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 →