According to the latest data from FSA compliance at the 5 star level continues to improve, reaching 77.3% at the end of last quarter. By any measure, one of the greatest initiatives to improve complaince ever. Now time to make sure it is fit for purpose for the next 20 years.
Ivy collection valued at £1.4B with majority share sold to Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC).
What’s not love about a14xEBITDA ratio.?Perhaps UK is seen as a safer haven than UAE right now…
FHRS has been confirmed by the FSA as their flagship initiative, whilst acknowleging it will need to change and adapt in the light of the ‘Future Food Regulations Programme’ discussed at the recent March 2026 board meeting.
To enable the FSA to directly regulate the large chains and allow them self-inspection, FHRS will finally be enshrined in law. The delays, pauses and postponements to this over the last 15 years might eventually be over and it is expected that the legislation will include the compulsory display of stickers in England.
Unfortunately, the 89% of consumers who say they want this, will still have to wait until after 2030 before it is fully rolled out.
Watch this space
ASDA makes major change in ALL its supermarkets after being slapped with £500,000 fine.
ASDA has been forced into a huge shake-up after being slapped with a £500,000 fine for selling out-of-date food in one of its UK supermarkets.
It is illegal for shops to sell food that has passed its expiry date. However, food can legally be sold past its “best-before” date provided it is still of good quality.
The grocery giant pleaded guilty to five offences under the Food Safety Act and was ordered to pay £507,767 in fines and costs on January 29 2026. Last July, it was forced to pay £640,000 after up to 115 expired food items were found at branches in Leckwith and Pentwyn. It was hit with another £130,000 fine last September after offences at its Huyton branch near Liverpool.
It has been reported that the chain has confirmed it has a new procedure.
An ASDA Spokesperson said “In the time since these products were found, we have introduced a new date code checking process in every Asda store to ensure the freshest products are always available for customers to buy. We are disappointed that some out-of-date products were found on sale at our Barnsley store in 2024. This fell short of the standards our customers rightly expect and that we hold ourselves to.”
Michelin guide confirms that scores don’t count towards stars.
Ynshir retained his 2 star Michelin rating at a ceremony in Dublin last night whilst still rating 1 star for food hygiene.
Full article here
Wetherspoons still setting the standard to which all UK chains aspire.
It’s no co-incidence that JD Wetherspoon were the first chain to use our performance management service to monitor and alert their compliance way back in 2009. We monitor some 89 UK chains and provide competitive league tables. From the larger chains, great to see JDW contining to lead the other large chains with an overall score across all 740 outlets of an incredible 4.99.
*Beaten only by two chains less than a tenth their size, but nevertheless very well done to both Wingstop and Giggling Squid for a clean sweep of a perfect 5.
JDW recently launched a new pub in our home town of Kenilworth, where they proudly celebrate their Food Hygiene achievement with a 3 page spread in their quarterly magazine.
It is exactly 20 years since the first Scores on the Doors council launched and some of the original members of the user group got together at the Champagne bar in St Pancras today to celebrate.
The last time we met up there was to celebrate the success of the 5 star scheme being adopted by the Food Standards Agency in preference to the recommendation of a 0-3 star scheme.
Although we are all slimmer and better looking than we were then, none of us can forget the momentum the group achieved and the benefits in improved compliance that have resulted from the initiative.
Compliance up over 60% at the 5 star level; today 77% of consumers use the scheme to inform decision on where to eat.
The FHRS has been phenominally successful, having grown out of that original launch of Scores on the Doors back in November 2005 with just 32 premises. Today, every registered food business is on the site – over 600,000.
After 15 years it’s time the FHRS is reviewed so as to remain relevant. And whilst Wales and Northern Ireland have had compulsory display of stickers for over 10 years, sadly the work on progressing this in England remains paused by FSA.
Our wish is for the most significant initiative in Food Hygiene compliance ever, to continue to evolve and adapt, to the benefit of all consumers.
Best wishes from PaulH, Carol, Christian, Lisa and all the the many contributors over the years who were not able to join today.
A new Food Law Code of Practice has been released by the Food Standards Agency encompassing the ability for remote inspections of risk level D and E premises. But what does ‘remote’ mean? A phone call? An email? A WhatsApp or TEAMS video call? What standards and safeguards need to in place to undertake an inspection remotely?
We were very active in the use of this method during COVID and still have some customers using our purpose-designed inspection technology. Before authorities launch headlong into using these techniques, we suggest there needs to be some official guidance based on practical evidence from the field.
Isle of Man to launch Scores on the Doors. In an apparent U turn it now appears Isle of Man is looking to publish food hygiene scores, potentially as early as Q2 2026.
Full story here
Deliveroo acquired by Doordash.
Exit valued at $2.9Bn – not bad for a guy who started delivering take-aways on his bike around London in 2013! Full press release here