THE CHALLENGE

Know what’s really happening

Good policies don't always mean good practice. Busy shifts, new staff and different sites create gaps that are hard to spot from inside. An independent audit shows you where they are.

Hidden Non-Compliance

 What's written down isn't always what happens.

Inconsistent Standards

Sites drift apart over time.

Risk & Regulatory

 Find problems before an EHO or client audit does.

Limited Visibility

Hard to see every site from head office.

HOW WE HELP

What our food safety audits check

A food safety audit is an independent check of how a business handles, stores and prepares food, and whether its food safety controls and records work in practice. We don't just tick boxes: we spot where standards are slipping and turn findings into clear priorities.

OUR APPROACH

A clear audit process from assessment to action

Every programme is structured around your operation, standards and assurance requirements, giving teams clear findings while providing leadership with greater visibility of performance.
1
Define
We agree what to check.
2
Audit
We watch how work is done and check records.
3
Report
Clear findings and priorities.
4
Verify
Optional follow-up to check fixes.
Follow-up and verification are additional services available where required.
Kitchen staff reviewing a checklist together
INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT

More than a checklist

We check whether food safety controls work in practice, not just whether the paperwork exists, against the law, ESB standards and your own policies.
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Independent assessment of operational controls
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Review against agreed programme standards
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Evidence-based findings and observations
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Clear priorities for action and improvement
FINDINGS & ACTION

Clear findings, clear priorities

Findings are easy to understand, so your teams know what needs doing first. Reports can be set up around your own requirements.
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Structured, clear and intuitive audit reporting
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Findings configured around your specific requirements
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Actionable priorities identified for operational teams
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Corrective actions and next steps made perfectly visible
Kitchen staff member completing a checklist
Inspector writing notes on a clipboard
MULTI-SITE ASSURANCE

From individual audits to estate-wide assurance

Across many sites, audits reveal patterns. We help you compare sites and see where to focus.
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Consistent assurance across multiple locations
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Compare performance across sites and programmes
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Identify recurring findings and emerging risks
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Give leadership greater visibility of priorities
TECHNOLOGY, REPORTING & INSIGHT

Turn audit findings into insight

Programme reports show every site, every fix and every repeat problem in one place, so you can prove improvement over time.
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See performance across sites and programmes
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Track corrective actions and outstanding priorities
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Identify recurring findings and trends
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Support clearer operational and leadership decisions
Quality check of food products recorded on a tablet
Kitchen staff discussing an issue during a walk-round
FOLLOW-UP & VERIFICATION

Making improvements stick

Where you need extra confidence, we revisit sites to check fixes are in place and working.
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Corrective-action follow-up
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Verification of implemented improvements
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Site revisits where additional assurance is required
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Ongoing technical support where appropriate

AUDIT PROGRAMMES

What our food safety audits can include

A tailored approach to meet your specific supply chain and risk requirements.

Full & Half-Day Audits

Flexible audit formats tailored to the depth, scope and requirements of your operation.

Combined Assurance

Bring food safety, health & safety and wider operational standards into one joined-up programme.

Remote & Desktop Audits

Review documentation, evidence and controls remotely where appropriate to the audit scope.

Mobilisation Audits

Identify gaps, priorities and readiness during new site, contract or operational mobilisation.

Supplier Audits

Assess supplier controls, due diligence and compliance against agreed programme requirements.

Verification & Revisits

Additional follow-up to confirm corrective actions have been implemented and improvements sustained.

THE ESB STANDARDS

More than just compliance

Our approach is built around independence, technical expertise and long-term client relationships, helping organisations strengthen standards while keeping solutions relevant to real operating environments.

Independent

Objective assurance and trusted advice.

Client focused

Support built around your operation and requirements.

Expert

Experienced technical and sector specialists.

Accountable

Clear ownership, responsive support & dependable delivery.

WHY ESB?

Why choose ESB for food safety audits?

We work alongside internal safety, technical and operational teams, adding objective assurance, specialist expertise and greater visibility without replacing the capability already within your organisation.
What we offer
Independent & objective
Specialist Expertise
Multi-Site Consistency
Actionable Findings
Reporting & Insight
Ongoing Support
ESB Promise
External assurance that complements your internal safety and technical teams.
Experienced food safety professionals with practical sector knowledge.
Consistent assurance across complex estates and operating environments.
Clear outputs that help teams understand where attention is needed.
Visibility of performance, recurring findings and wider trends.
Additional technical, verification and improvement support where required.
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Talk to us about your sites and we'll suggest the right audit programme.

Speak with our team to discuss your food safety challenges and find out how we can help you build safer, more compliant and resilient operations.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your questions, answered

Find out how ESB can work with your teams, support international operations and shape assurance around your organisation.

What does a food safety audit check?

It checks how food is handled, stored and prepared on your sites, and whether your food safety controls and records work in practice, against the law, ESB standards and your own policies.

How is an audit different from an EHO inspection?

An EHO (environmental health officer) inspects on behalf of the local council. Our audits are independent and done for you, so you can find and fix problems before an inspection.

How often should food safety audits be done?

It depends on risk. Sites with complex menus, high staff turnover or poor past results usually need auditing more often. We'll help you set the right frequency for each site.