Heron Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Wakefield
Heron Foods 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
This is a fresh result: Heron Foods was inspected on 22 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, WF9 2SE
How it compares in Wakefield
That puts Heron Foods among the 2,111 places in Wakefield holding top marks, 78% 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 | 2,111 | 78% | ← Heron Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 437 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 86 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 36 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 360 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 Very 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 Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bap Van Mobile caterer | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2024 |
| Jakes Place Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2022 |
| Adam's Plaice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 12 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2025 |
| One Stop Retailers - other | 12 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2016 |
| Adam's Cafe & Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2025 |
| Brookside Commercial And Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2019 |
| Greggs Plc Retailers - other | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Home Bargains Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2015 |
Questions about Heron Foods
What is Heron Foods's food hygiene rating?
Heron Foods has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Wakefield Council on 22 June 2026.
Is Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods last inspected?
Heron Foods was last inspected on 22 June 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wakefield Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Heron Foods?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Heron Foods compare to other places in Wakefield?
78% of the 2,692 rated food businesses in Wakefield hold the top rating of 5, and Heron Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Wakefield Council inspects Heron Foods 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 Heron Foods and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Heron Foods is one of 642 rated food businesses in Pontefract. See every hygiene rating in Pontefract →
Wakefield inspects and rates 3,052 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wakefield →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wakefield.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 →