Kidderminster store fined £400,000 following food hygiene breaches
News release issued:
CDS (Superstores International) Limited, trading as the Range, has been fined £400,000 after admitting breaching food safety and hygiene regulations.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ (WRS) Environmental Health Officers, on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council, visited the store at Crossley Retail Park, Kidderminster in March 2024 following concerns about a pest infestation at the store raised by a member of the public. During an initial visit officers found Easter eggs on the shelves, which had been gnawed by rodents.
During follow up visits, officers saw a rat in one of the aisles, in the warehouse, and in the rear delivery yard area. Mouse and rat droppings were also found across the store, including on shelves, around the tills and on pallets in the depot.
Following the findings, Range staff worked with WRS to recall the Easter eggs and voluntarily closed the area of the store where the gnawed Easter eggs were found. Additional pest control measures were also put in place.
The company pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations at a hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates Court in June 2025. On 11 December 2025 a district judge ordered the company to pay a £400,000 fine. The company was also ordered to pay agreed full prosecution costs of £10, 545.74 and a victim surcharge of £2000, making the total the company must pay £412,545.74.
Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Worcestershire Regulatory Services, 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.”
WRS is a shared public service funded by the six district councils in the county.
Members of the public can contact WRS regarding public health risk following food complaints, for more details or advice.