Where to start with a small sweet business?

[alybeth]

Hi all, was wondering if you could share some advice.

I'm looking to start a small sweet business from home in the autumn. At the moment I'm not handling unwrapped sweets, just ones that come pre-wrapped such as boiled sweets in the cellophane wrappers.

I won't have a premises initially. I'd be looking to sell at craft fairs, etc.

Where do I stand legally on this? What qualifications are required?

I've read that a Hygiene certificate isn't strictly required by law, because I wouldn't be trading regularly.. I would be working from home initially, as previously mentioned I wouldn't have a premises, so would that make any difference?

Also, for handling unwrapped sweets, such as dolly mixture, what qualifications/certificates would be needed?

I have contacted my local Trading Standards but they've not got back to me yet. Hoping someone can help me out!


Thanks,


Al

 

[Merchant UK]

Hi all, was wondering if you could share some advice.

I'm looking to start a small sweet business from home in the autumn. At the moment I'm not handling unwrapped sweets, just ones that come pre-wrapped such as boiled sweets in the cellophane wrappers.

I won't have a premises initially. I'd be looking to sell at craft fairs, etc.

Where do I stand legally on this? What qualifications are required?

I've read that a Hygiene certificate isn't strictly required by law, because I wouldn't be trading regularly.. I would be working from home initially, as previously mentioned I wouldn't have a premises, so would that make any difference?

Also, for handling unwrapped sweets, such as dolly mixture, what qualifications/certificates would be needed?

I have contacted my local Trading Standards but they've not got back to me yet. Hoping someone can help me out!


Thanks,


Al

Your not making food so you wouldn't need any quals or certificates but you will be storing foodstuffs in your home so Hygiene is very important. Keep all the stock in a clean room away from pets, should be enough to satisfy most people. Why did you contact Trading Standards? normally i think they go after people that do wrong??

 

[alybeth]

Your not making food so you wouldn't need any quals or certificates but you will be storing foodstuffs in your home so Hygiene is very important. Keep all the stock in a clean room away from pets, should be enough to satisfy most people. Why did you contact Trading Standards? normally i think they go after people that do wrong??

I was advised to contact them, the Food Standards Agency and my local council... :|

 

[Merchant UK]

I was advised to contact them, the Food Standards Agency and my local council... :|

But your not cooking or making food there are you? as long as you have a room clean and free from pets in which to store your products i don't think your going to have any issues, For reselling foodstuff in general you don't need any certificates or qualifications, and as these are prepacked, then you'd only have to follow common sense hygiene steps.

I've seen a local sweet seller that sells at markets etc, keep his stock in a self storage place

 

[alybeth]

But your not cooking or making food there are you? as long as you have a room clean and free from pets in which to store your products i don't think your going to have any issues, For reselling foodstuff in general you don't need any certificates or qualifications, and as these are prepacked, then you'd only have to follow common sense hygiene steps.

I've seen a local sweet seller that sells at markets etc, keep his stock in a self storage place

Okay.. Well what if I wanted to buy loose sweets, the repackage them into smaller packets?

 

[Vending Siting Services]

Hi there

There are very strict guidelines when it comes to re-packaging of sweets, the easiest to conform will be pre-wrapped as this enables you to re-pack without much effort. To keep in line with the law, the container/packaging you place the pre-wrapped sweets into will need to display the ingredients, a brief description of the contents and the BBE dates - (best before end) Together with your contact details should a cusomer need to contact you. You will have to keep records of where the sweets have come from, record batch numbers and the BBE date of each batch you receive. Quite simple to do.

If you handle loose sweets then this is another matter entirely and it would be best of you contact FSA (Foods Standards Agency) and ask for their help on how to comply if you are working from home. I have been involved with the packaging of loose and pre-wrapped sweets for many years and to be honest with you, stick to the pre-wrapped unless you are able to comply. It will take just one complaint from any of your customers and the FSA will make an unannounced visit and could close you down if you don't comply when handling loose products.

The FSA are there to help you and are very approachable.

Good luck.

Barbara

 

[Billmccallum]

see http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/guidancenotes/hygguid/foodhandlersguide the pdf at the end is useful.

The obvious issues for you, wear gloves when handling sweets, if you have to touch them at all, mainly use scoops to transfer items from box to scales to packaging.

Clean (spotless) workspace and storage.

Best if you can use a room at home wholly for the business activity, that way you can secure the room and ensure its kept free from contaminants.

 

[davidowen]

Hi Alybeth,

Out of interest will you be recruiting staff once you move out of working from home?

Regards,

David