Sainsbury's Local food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Buckinghamshire
Sainsbury's Local 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 July 2016, more than 9 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Sainsburys Store, Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, HP10 9LS
How it compares in Buckinghamshire
That puts Sainsbury's Local among the 3,226 places in Buckinghamshire holding top marks, 81% 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 | 3,226 | 81% | ← Sainsbury's Local | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 530 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 171 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 42 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 615 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 Sainsbury's Local 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 Sainsbury's Local, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Concern Day Centre Caring Premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Express Video Retailers - other | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Crumbs Corner Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Christ Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 253 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2016 |
| Carrington Infant School School/college/university | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
| Carrington Junior School School/college/university | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2026 |
| Cakes By Justine Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2009 |
Questions about Sainsbury's Local
What is Sainsbury's Local's food hygiene rating?
Sainsbury's Local has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 25 July 2016.
Is Sainsbury's Local 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 Sainsbury's Local last inspected?
Sainsbury's Local was last inspected on 25 July 2016, more than 9 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sainsbury's Local?
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 Sainsbury's Local compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?
81% of the 4,001 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, and Sainsbury's Local is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Buckinghamshire Council inspects Sainsbury's Local 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 Sainsbury's Local 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
Sainsbury's Local is one of 33 rated food businesses in Flackwell Heath. See every hygiene rating in Flackwell Heath →
Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,616 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →