Selling home-made baking? Anyone have experience of this?

[IWishIWasAFrog]

Hi All,

On mat leave and thought I could make and sell homemade traditional cakes/home baking (not from these shores) for a supplemental income. Had a quick look and gathered

• I need a food hygiene certificate
• and have my kitchen inspected by the council...

will phone them on Monday.

• complete 'safer food, better business' pack by Food Standards Agency

Do I need public liability insurance in case I make someone ill? Was thinking of sticking to about 4 products.

Thought I would place ads in the local paper and do deliveries once a week to keep costs down.

Any thoughs/tips? or am I wasting my time?

Thanks.

Recent changes in tightening up regulations made a lot of older WI ladies stop doing it is all I know. Maybe WI website has more info.

Thanks, yes, from FSA I gathered the regulations changed in 2006... hence 'safer food, better business' pack. Ironically, I usually work in 'elf and safety

I thought of doing this around a year ago and went as far as to contact the local council. A very nice woman came to my house and had a cup of tea. She asked me all about my idea, looked at the kitchen very briefly, advised me to use an anti bacterial spray and shut the cats out of the kitchen whilst baking. Then she gave me a big folder of information and went. A fw days later I got my certificate of something [hazy on what exactly] and a letter wishing me well.
Needless to say I have done absolutely nothing about it.

i bought some very nice muffins and other chocolate thing from a lady on ebay while i was away on hols with Ds and DH was home alone. she cooked to order.

she posted things all over the country. when i got home thir was still one left and i must say it was divine.

yes i think it is possible to do if your products are a good standard and price. don't compete with supermarket junk.

yes, i have been doing this while on mat leave - still am now 6months on!

i sell through delis and also won a contract with local restaurants through a competition in the paper (nearly didn't enter, either, so "the moral" of the tale is def give it a go - you never know where it'll lead!).

it's been great for earning a little well-needed cash - plus i've enjoyed doing something totally different.

just contact your local council re: kitchen "inspection" etc. they'll be really helpful i'm sure. the only major thing i needed to do was fit a double sink - but a seperate hand-washing area is the stipulation so may not be neccesary - i actually needed a new kitchen anyway so it gave me the excuse (to nag DP into doing it anyway!)

just about to start a stall for xmas food fairs so i have just got public liability insurance but it wasn't mentioned to me previously (by council etc.) - perhaps give it a go for a couple of months to see if your really want to pursue it before shelling out for the expense? if you aren't using fresh cream/meat etc (meat a bit weird in baking anyway!) you shouldn't have to worry about poisoning anyone (so council told me anyway!)

good luck! p.s. i sell on the whole 'free-range/fair trade' ethic - most supermarkets use misery caged eggs/cheapest ingredients - leave 'em to it, i say! people don't mind paying a little more for quality, in my experience

Maybe you could sell at farmers markets?

We have a lovely little cafe down the road and I often see a Mum, with dc in tow, delivering cakes that she has made to sell.

Good Luck

Do you need a licence for selling food?

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. Well done Mojomamma! I have no idea if I need a licence, will ask the council Monday. One blip though, we rent a house, I might need the permission from the landlord too... Anyhow, will know more on Monday. Enjoy your weekend!