1. Food fraud; know what you are serving up
The obligation to know where your ingredients come from is wider than the avoidance of food fraud, which is on the rise. If you do not carry out supply chain due diligence you risk falling foul of legislation such as The Modern Slavery Act and allergen regulations, as well as risking larger fines (see below). For an overview of the risks read:
https://hospitalitylaw.co.uk/food-fraud-know-what-you-are-serving-up/
2. Food safety; the price to pay if you get it wrong
New guidelines on how penalties for food hygiene offences are calculated now take into account the turnover of the offending organisation. The fine range extends up to £3m. For details see:
https://hospitalitylaw.co.uk/new-food-hygiene-fines-reflect-operator-turnover/
3. A pizza of the action; competition restrictions
Given the popularity of Italian food it is not uncommon for landlords to impose menu restrictions in leases where an anchor tenant’s core offer includes pizza. This could mean a direct hit on the bottom line. Does this qualify as anti-competitive behaviour and, what can tenants do about it?
https://hospitalitylaw.co.uk/competition-restrictions-affecting-restaurants/
4. Immigrant workers – a checklist of checks you must carry out
Illegally employed workers equal big fines; up to £20,000 per worker. With its high reliance on casual staff, the restaurant trade is very attractive to migrant workers. Download our checklist to make sure you get it right.
https://hospitalitylaw.co.uk/publications/immigrant-workers-illegal-working/
5. Allergen regulations – have you got your menu right?
Regulations requiring restaurants to provide information about the allergen content of food have been in force since the end of 2014. However, a survey commissioned some months later revealed many hotel, catering and hospitality managers were still concerned about inaccurate allergen information being given to customers. Apart from hefty fines, getting it wrong could cause serious consequences for the diner. Refresh yourself on what you need to do:
https://hospitalitylaw.co.uk/allergen-regulations-cause-for-concern/
Click here to read: Pitfalls for restaurants
