Big standards for small kitchens
Takeaways, dark kitchens, market traders and mobile caterers, we deliver practical food safety that fits a fast counter and a small team. A higher hygiene rating wins customers on delivery apps and keeps the EHO onside.
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How we can help
Hygiene rating improvement
A structured plan to lift a low FSA rating after a poor inspection, documented corrective actions, a pre-visit mock EHO inspection, and re-rating support. A visible rating of 5 builds trust on delivery platforms and with walk-in customers.
HACCP for compact kitchens
Right-sized food safety management for takeaways, dark kitchens and mobile units, practical records your team will actually keep, written around your menu and your workflow, not a generic template.
Allergen labelling & Natasha's Law
PPDS labelling for grab-and-go and pre-packed items, allergen information for delivery app menus, and staff awareness training so every team member can handle allergen queries with confidence.
Training that fits shift work
Level 2 and Level 3 food hygiene qualifications, available online or in-house, scheduled around service hours. Accredited courses your team can complete without shutting down the kitchen.
HACCP and hygiene-rating recovery for compact kitchens
A low FSA rating usually comes down to a handful of specific issues from your last inspection, often documentation, cleaning or structure, rather than your food. Fixing it is a process, and we run it: a mock EHO inspection against the same scoring the inspector uses, a clear action list, and support through a re-rating request.
Your HACCP and allergen systems are right-sized for a fast counter and a small team, with records that are practical to keep during service. A visible Food Hygiene Rating of 5 wins customers on delivery apps and reassures walk-ins. See our HACCP consulting and allergen support.
What your takeaway food safety covers
- A mock EHO inspection against the FSA scoring an inspector uses
- A clear corrective-action plan and re-rating support
- Right-sized HACCP for takeaways, dark kitchens and mobile units
- PPDS (Natasha's Law) labelling for grab-and-go items
- Allergen information set up correctly on delivery apps
- Temperature records your team will actually keep
- Accredited training scheduled around service hours
Guide prices
- Mock EHO inspection
- from £350
- Site-specific HACCP plan
- from £500
- Allergen management
- from £200
Reviewed by a food safety expert
Carren Amoli
Founder & Lead Food Safety Consultant
BSc (Hons) · Former NHS dietitian · International food safety auditor · 16+ years
Carren founded Kitchen Tonic in 2015 and has 16+ years in food safety. She personally oversees client work, from HACCP plans to EHO inspection support, and has helped 500+ UK kitchens reach a Food Hygiene Rating of 5.
More about Carren and the teamOne place to manage training across your sites and team
The KitchenTonic Business Portal lets you set mandatory courses by site and role, track every certificate across your whole business, and access bulk-rate accredited training, free to join, no contract.
Free to join
Create an account in under two minutes, no card required, no contract on the Free tier.
Employee training tracker
Invite your team, assign accredited courses, and track progress and certificates across every site.
Site-specific mandatory courses
Set the training each site and job role requires, from zero-hours staff to supervisors, so nothing slips.
Business pricing
Bulk seat discounts up to 20%, plus 10–25% off consulting when you purchase 2+ courses.
Takeaway food safety: your questions answered
How do I improve a low food hygiene rating?
A low FSA rating usually reflects a small number of specific issues raised at your last inspection, often around documented procedures or structural and cleaning standards, rather than your food itself. We carry out a mock EHO inspection against the same scoring the inspector uses, give you a clear list of corrective actions, help you implement them, and support you through a re-rating request. A visible 5 builds trust with walk-in customers and on delivery platforms.
Do takeaways and dark kitchens legally need a HACCP plan?
Yes. Under assimilated Regulation (EC) 852/2004, almost every food business must put in place and maintain a permanent procedure based on HACCP principles, including takeaways, dark kitchens and mobile units. The documentation should be proportionate to your size, so a compact kitchen's plan is lighter than a manufacturer's, but a written, working plan with records your team will actually keep is expected.
What allergen information do I need for delivery platform orders?
You must be able to give accurate allergen information for every dish, and on delivery apps that usually means listing the 14 regulated allergens against each menu item. For any food you pre-pack on site for direct sale, such as grab-and-go items, Natasha's Law (PPDS labelling) requires a full ingredients list with allergens emphasised. We help you build an allergen matrix, set up your platform menus correctly, and brief staff so they can answer queries safely.
Can you help a compact kitchen or a single delivery-only unit?
Yes. Most of our takeaway and dark kitchen work is for small, fast-moving operations with limited space and a small team. We right-size everything to your menu and workflow, so your food safety management is practical to run during service, not a generic template that sits in a drawer. Mobile caterers and market traders are covered too.
Connect with our takeaway team
Tell us about your operation, whether that is a single takeaway counter, a dark kitchen unit, or a market stall, and we will put together a package that fits your budget and your risk. We will come back within one business day.
Enquiring about: Takeaways & Street Food
How can we help?
Pick the option that best describes your situation.
Faster route: take the 4-minute risk assessment
Most businesses get a faster, tailored answer when they share their FSA rating, business type, and pain points first. We’ll email a personalised scorecard and a consultant matched to your postcode.
Type of enquiry