The Southern Co-Operative food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Isle of Wight
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
The rating dates from 21 October 2024, 22 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
88% of rated food businesses in Isle of Wight score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Isle of Wight ratings →
Address: Avenue Road, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, PO40 9UU
⚠️ 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 it compares in Isle of Wight
That puts The Southern Co-Operative among the 1,038 places in Isle of Wight holding top marks, 70% 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 | 1,038 | 70% | ← The Southern Co-Operative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 275 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 140 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 211 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Burger And Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| PJ Thorne Butchers Retailers - other | at this address | 4 - Good | 29 July 2025 |
| FLOW Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| The Wight Shop Retailers - other | 34 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Friday Morning Market Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2025 |
| The Cabin Newsagents Retailers - other | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2025 |
| West Wight Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2024 |
| The Wight Hart Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 125 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 16 June 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 Isle of Wight Council on 21 October 2024.
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 21 October 2024, 22 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Isle of Wight 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 "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 Isle of Wight?
70% of the 1,493 rated food businesses in Isle of Wight hold the top rating of 5, and The Southern Co-Operative is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Isle of Wight 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 52 rated food businesses in Freshwater. See every hygiene rating in Freshwater →
Isle of Wight inspects and rates 1,704 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Isle of Wight →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/community-protection-services/
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 →