Co-op Food Harpenden food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · St Albans City
Co-op Food Harpenden 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
The rating dates from 20 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: 130 Southdown Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 1PU
How it compares in St Albans City
That puts Co-op Food Harpenden among the 818 places in St Albans City holding top marks, 77% 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 | 818 | 77% | ← Co-op Food Harpenden | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 63 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 105 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 Co-op Food Harpenden 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 Co-op Food Harpenden, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Aroma Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2024 |
| Bentozo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2026 |
| Lazy Bear Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2024 |
| Harpenden Springs Care Home Caring Premises | 215 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Fusion Childcare Services Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2026 |
| CareTech - Meadow Acres Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2025 |
| Harpenden Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2025 |
| Harpenden Bowling Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
Questions about Co-op Food Harpenden
What is Co-op Food Harpenden's food hygiene rating?
Co-op Food Harpenden has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by St Albans City Council on 20 February 2025.
Is Co-op Food Harpenden 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 Co-op Food Harpenden last inspected?
Co-op Food Harpenden was last inspected on 20 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by St Albans City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Co-op Food Harpenden?
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 Co-op Food Harpenden compare to other places in St Albans City?
77% of the 1,058 rated food businesses in St Albans City hold the top rating of 5, and Co-op Food Harpenden is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
St Albans City Council inspects Co-op Food Harpenden 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 Co-op Food Harpenden and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Co-op Food Harpenden is one of 193 rated food businesses in Harpenden. See every hygiene rating in Harpenden →
St Albans City inspects and rates 1,163 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in St Albans City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/business/Health-and-safety/food-safety/foodHygieneRating.aspx
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 →