razmatazz
7th June 2008, 17:44
I want to start a very small home business, making food like brownies/cakes etc this and selling them to customers direct or suppling local shops in my area. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to go about this, and the legal stuff that I need to go through?
Any input would be appreciated!
obscure
7th June 2008, 20:29
Same question asked 3 days ago. Read http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=69082&highlight=selling+food+home
The Dispute Resolver
8th June 2008, 08:09
The previous thread explains about food laws, but if, as I assume, you intend to sell by website then there is a host of other rules with which you have to comply.
You say you will have a mixed customer base ie consumers and retailers. Its vital to take steps in the design of your website to ensure you do not give to retailers he much greater rights as consumers. Easily done through oversight by most e-commerce websites. Also consider what you do with purchase orders from countries whose food laws you do not know about. Terms and conditions are vital and these need to be tailored to your business.
You can register for my weekly webinars on internet law (ar www.TheResolver.co.uk (http://www.TheResolver.co.uk))
or I can give you a written Report on all the legal issues (including privacy and the new misdescription laws that came in last month and which are easily and innocently breached - eg referring to 'our team' when there is only one of you etc as well as provide T&Cs) tailored to your business.
ginantonic
9th June 2008, 23:19
I started my catering business 3 years ago working from home, and there are quite a few legal thing to watch out for. The most obvious is the Environmental Health at your local Council, you have to be inspected and follow quite strict Food & Hygiene regs. You also have to have your Basic Food & Hygiene Cert.
If you are selling food to be sold elsewhere - e.g. in local shops, you have to follow the labelling regulations regarding the EXACT ingredients in your cookies, have the sell-by date on, etc.
If you are making the food (eg sandwiches) in a shop and selling direct from that shop, you can get away with either not labelling the food, or basic labels, but I always fully label everything, just to cover myself. You also have to put on every label that the product may contain nuts...it is quite involved.
If you are working from home you also have to be extremely careful about cleanliness, wearing suitable aprons, hair nets, etc. as your standard of cleanliness is probably not as high as those expected by the Environmental Health.
I work from home mostly, and have a metal storage "shed" outside, with 3 fridges in, never underestimate how many fridges you will need! I also have to shut the cat out of the kitchen (which is a pain in the hot weather), stop the kids trailing in with their friends, and keep my delivery vehicle spotless, as the EH inspect that, too.
Don't let it all put you off, though, as it is a good business to get into and do from home. I like it, anyway.