Rat and droppings seen at Kidderminster's The Range results in £400k fine for food safety and hygiene breaches
A rat and droppings were seen by inspectors visiting Kidderminster's The Range store resulting in a £400,000 fine for food safety and hygiene breaches.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ (WRS) Environmental Health Officers, acting on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council, visited the store at Crossley Retail Park, in Kidderminster in March 2024 after reports about a pest infestation was made by a member of the public.
During an initial visit, the officers found Easter eggs on the shelves which had been gnawed by rodents.
Then during follow up visits officers saw a rat in one of the aisles, in the warehouse, and in the rear delivery yard area. While mouse and rat droppings were also found throughout the premises on shelves, near the the tills and on pallets in the yard.
In the immediate aftermath the branch operated by CDS (Superstores International) Limited, trading as The Range, issued a customer recall for the chocolate eggs to be returned and the voluntarily closed the area of the store where the gnawed goods were found. Additional pest control measures were also put in place.
At a hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates Court in June 2025 the company pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations.
This was followed by the sentencing hearing on December 11 when a district judge ordered the company to pay a £400,000 fine. CDS was also ordered to pay £10, 545.74 costs and £2,000 victim surcharge.
It must pay a total of £412,545.74 relating to the case.
Wyre Forest District Council’s Worcestershire Regulatory Services boss Councillor Ian Hardiman said: “This case shows why businesses must follow the rules. We are pleased the company has worked hard to make things right since our officers first raised concerns. We will always act when standards are not met to keep the public safe.”
