New food businesses are booming in Hull, with increasing numbers of pizzerias and takeaway premises as well as people running bakeries from their own kitchens. The growth has been driven by the Coronavirus pandemic, with people honing skills at home, finding usual work disrupted, or adapting existing food businesses.
Nationally, 37 per cent of new ventures registered are run from domestic kitchens at private addresses. The figure in Hull is broadly similar.
The council and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which operates the national Food Hygiene Scheme, is urging people to ensure all new businesses are registered with the council’s Environmental Health Team at least 28 days before opening. All ventures must be registered, including those selling online, over social media, from a customer-facing base, and home kitchens. Failing to register is an offence and those who do so could face a fine.
Sam Bacon, Food, Health and Safety Manager at Hull City Council said: “We have seen a huge increase in people selling food from their homes over the course of the pandemic.
“That’s why we’re working with the FSA to support businesses in Hull to ensure they are registering and keeping us informed of changes to their businesses.
“Registration applies to the majority of food businesses. This includes anyone who provides food from their homes and online through sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Amazon or eBay as well as from market stalls, food pop ups and vehicles used to provide and distribute food.”
“Registration is free. If you are already trading and have not registered yet, you need to get register as soon as possible as this is a legal requirement.
“We’d always encourage businesses to get in touch with us if they have any questions as we are happy to help and provide assistance.”
Hull has a total of 2,302 registered businesses. Registering is vital as it assesses a business owner’s understanding of food safety, and ensures a premises can be inspected and the facilities checked. Without registration the nature of a business cannot be assessed, and the council’s environmental health teams are unable to give appropriate advice, or give a Food Hygiene Rating.
Michael Jackson, Deputy Director – Head of Regulatory Compliance, at the FSA said: “Local Authorities need to know who is trading in their area and registration is an opportunity to ensure that food businesses have access to relevant guidance and support to help them get it right from the start and to protect consumers.
“If a business is already registered but has changed how they operate, they should contact their local authority/council to let them know”.
