Southern Co-op food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Dorset
Southern Co-op 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 28 January 2025, 17 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: The Cooperative Market Square House Station Road, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1FG
How it compares in Dorset
That puts Southern Co-op among the 3,808 places in Dorset holding top marks, 95% 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 | 3,808 | 95% | ← Southern Co-op | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 139 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 33 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 1,119 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 Southern 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 Southern Co-op, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harts Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2025 |
| Sturminster Newton Country Market Retailers - other | 70 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2018 |
| The Exchange Other catering premises | 70 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| Royal British Legion Pub/bar/nightclub | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2025 |
| Bulmag Ltd Retailers - other | 119 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Poets Corner Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 133 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2025 |
| One Stop Retailers - other | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2019 |
| Oxfords Bakery Retailers - other | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2024 |
Questions about Southern Co-op
What is Southern Co-op's food hygiene rating?
Southern Co-op has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dorset Council on 28 January 2025.
Is Southern Co-op 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 Southern Co-op last inspected?
Southern Co-op was last inspected on 28 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Southern Co-op?
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 Southern Co-op compare to other places in Dorset?
95% of the 3,988 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, and Southern Co-op is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dorset Council inspects Southern 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 Southern Co-op and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Southern Co-op is one of 46 rated food businesses in Sturminster Newton. See every hygiene rating in Sturminster Newton →
Dorset inspects and rates 5,107 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →