How to set up a food business
Register your food business
If you are planning to open a new food business, or take over an existing food business as the new owner, you will need to register the business with us.
You should register with us at least 28 days before you begin trading. Registrations that are more than 28 days in advance will be rejected and asked to reapply nearer the trading date.
A food business includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- restaurants
- pubs
- food manufacturers/wholesalers
- schools
- charity groups
- individuals making food at home
- online food sales
- market traders.
Once you are registered with us, we will likely undertake an unannounced food hygiene inspection to assess your compliance with food safety legislation.
There may be a delay between when you submitted the food registration form and when the officer visits the premises, however you can start to trade.
You must make sure that you are meeting the appropriate standards of food hygiene and food safety. Please have all the required documentation in place, such as a documented food safety management system and appropriate monitoring records, before you start to produce food for your business. A Safer Food Better Business Pack can be downloaded free of charge from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website, alternatively you can request a pack from us for a small fee.
Please visit our food safety and hygiene webpage for more information.
Advice when getting started
Whether you are a new food business or age-old, from cooking at home to being a multi-national company, we are confident we have a service that can help you.
We can provide advice on:
- Food Safety Management Systems
- policies and procedures
- food safety and hygiene legislation compliance
- exporting food
- pre-construction lay-out and design
- fixtures and fittings
- renovation work
- waste audits
- food hygiene training for your staff
- signpost you to suppliers and customers
- audit your business in relation to food hygiene and safety.
Good food hygiene is essential to help prevent food poisoning and protect your reputation with customers. The FSA website provides resources to help food businesses produce safe food, including your first steps to running a catering business and food hygiene guidance.
Your business can request a pre-inspection visit where we can assess you before you open for business, or begin construction, and provide advice regarding food hygiene and health and safety. Please email commercial.envhealth@scambs.gov.uk to request this.
Other things to consider:
- if you are setting up a new business at home or in a business unit, you may need to speak with our Planning Service to identify whether the site has the correct planning permissions
- you may also need to contact our Business Rates Team to identify whether you would be required to pay Business Rates or if you may be exempt.