Heron Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · West Northamptonshire
Heron Foods 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 January 2019, more than 7 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: 14 Kingsthorpe Centre, Harborough Road, Northampton, NN2 7BD
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
That puts Heron Foods among the 2,565 places in West Northamptonshire 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 | 2,565 | 78% | ← Heron Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 377 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 44 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Friday Lunch Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 154 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
| Arizi Italian Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 January 2024 |
| Boughton Lodge Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 March 2023 |
| ALDI Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2025 |
| BP Harborough Simply Food Connect Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2022 |
| Asda Supermarket Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2024 |
| Barratts Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
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 West Northamptonshire Council on 21 January 2019.
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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Heron Foods last inspected?
Heron Foods was last inspected on 21 January 2019, more than 7 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire 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 "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 West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, and Heron Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire 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.
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
Heron Foods is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →