The owners of a recently opened takeaway in Nottingham have said it could close because of money problems following a low food hygiene rating, adding they are "sad" this could be the case. Naeem Khan, 22, and Saif Amini, 29, opened Cod Chef on Alfreton Road in October last year.
The takeaway previously had a food hygiene rating of 4, but when it was inspected again on June 9, a food hygiene rating of 1 was given. Three areas are inspected by a food safety officer, which are 'management of food safety', which in this case was rated 'major improvement necessary', 'cleanliness and condition of facilities and building', rated as 'improvement necessary', and 'hygienic food handling', which was rated 'generally satisfactory'.
Cod Chef was previously on Just Eat and Deliveroo but, because of the lower rating, has not been allowed to trade on the popular delivery sites, and will not be allowed to do so until it gets a better rating. Because of this, Mr Amini says the business now makes £200 per week, compared to the £500 made each week when the business could operate as normal, which is a problem because of the rising cost of ingredients as an example.
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Mr Amini said: "We are struggling at the moment and it's upsetting. We had four stars before, and we were being supported for starting up our own takeaway, but I feel like that support has gone now.
"We're considering selling the premises and putting the lock on the doors if things don't get better, we just want to put food on the table for our families, it's sad. If we make any money, we'll spend it and put it straight back into the business.
"Before this, I worked and I was happy. We're struggling to pay for energy bills as it stands and have been getting reminders, I don't feel like we have a chance.
"We can't afford the repairs that have been requested. I don't get why we have a food hygiene rating of one when there's nothing wrong with the food, and everywhere is kept clean, it is not as if we are serving food that is not cooked properly.
"If the inspector would have worked with us, instead of saying 'that's wrong, that's wrong, that's wrong', that would have been much more helpful to us, but it's knocked our confidence now. Everything is made fresh here, when we get an order, we make it."
Mr Khan said: "We did all the repair work to the building ourselves, but what has been requested now is too expensive for us to do. I wish we'd have had more help."
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