Morrisons has been fined £750,000 after a routine inspection revealed filthy conditions in its Cwmbran bakery. The supermarket chain was ordered to pay £737,000 – reduced from £1.1 million due to an early guilty plea – plus £11,221.38 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
Inspection uncovered 51 violations
Environmental health officers from Torfaen Council visited the store on Grange Road, Cwmbran, on August 2, 2024. They found poor cleanliness, dirty equipment, inadequate staff supervision, and failures in food safety management. The bakery was immediately closed for deep cleaning.
Prosecutor Lee Reynolds told Newport Magistrates Court that the standard of cleaning on work surfaces and equipment fell “well below” expected levels. In one area, dirt and grime on the floor was approximately a quarter of an inch thick. The bakery was described as “cluttered and generally disorganised”, preventing effective cleaning and disinfection.
Morrisons had been aware of 51 flaws in its food safety management for more than a month before the inspection.
Council warns businesses
Daniel Morelli, Torfaen Council’s public protection chief, said: “This case demonstrates the important work of our officers in carrying out independent checks to ensure the food we buy is safe to eat. Their work often goes unseen, but they play a vital role in preventing ill-health through identifying non-compliances and taking action to secure necessary improvements, safeguarding the public, and reducing the cost of illness and burden on the NHS.”
He added: “Whilst every effort is made to work with businesses using an informal, educative approach, the council will not hesitate to take formal action where the health and well-being of consumers is placed at risk.”
Morrisons responds
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We were very disappointed in the condition of the bakery in August 2024. It fell far short of the standard our customers expect and that we should provide. This was a single local issue which was dealt with immediately by working closely with the council. The improvement made has been consistently maintained.”
