Co-op food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Swale
Co-op holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the supermarket are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 18 February 2013, more than 13 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: 1 - 2 The Parade, Northwood Drive, Sittingbourne, ME10 4QJ
How it compares in Swale
In Swale, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so Co-op sits behind roughly 989 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 989 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 134 | 11% | ← Co-op | |
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 40 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 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, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALP Sittingbourne School/college/university | 84 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Fulston Manor School School/college/university | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2024 |
| Caterlink At Highsted Grammar School/college/university | 341 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
| HCRG Care Group Caring Premises | 393 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Chaucer Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2023 |
| Achieve Together Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2024 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
| Heather House Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2024 |
Questions about Co-op
What is Co-op's food hygiene rating?
Co-op has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Swale Council on 18 February 2013.
Is Co-op safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this supermarket to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Co-op last inspected?
Co-op was last inspected on 18 February 2013, more than 13 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Co-op?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 compare to other places in Swale?
83% of the 1,186 rated food businesses in Swale hold the top rating of 5, while Co-op holds a 4. 134 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Swale Council inspects Co-op 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 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
Co-op is one of 298 rated food businesses in Sittingbourne. See every hygiene rating in Sittingbourne →
Swale inspects and rates 1,226 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swale.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 →