Street Trader FAQ’s – COVID 19 - Dated 27th April 2020
1. Can I still trade?
Yes you can. Food services offering a pick-up service may remain operational if they can comply with the government guidance. It is imperative takeaway services adhere to Public Health guidelines including social distancing for staff and customers with regular and thorough cleansing and hand washing. Traders continuing to operate must ensure workers and customers maintain social distancing rules at all times, and adopt business practices to stop the spread of coronavirus to save lives.
To assist and reduce people visiting, gathering or waiting at your pitch, we recommend:
• You reduce customers visiting your pitch by taking telephone, social media and online orders using card payments with agreed collection times and door step delivery services.
• You display clear signage on and around trading area enforcing customers queue at two metre distance, stand two metres from your serving area, and wait in their cars until the order is ready.
2. Can my existing food business serve takeaway food?
In response to restaurants, bars, etc being required to close down, many food businesses are now considering operating as takeaway and delivery businesses in the immediate term, to continue trading.
Provided you have already registered with the local authority as a food business you need only notify us of the change to the way you are operating. If the food business operator remains unchanged you do not need to reregister. You may need to adjust your food safety management system to take into account food safety during deliveries (see below for further advice)
The government has relaxed planning controls for traders providing hot food and drinks takeaway services on a temporary basis during the current exceptional circumstances. Further information on relaxing planning rules can be found at gov.uk
If you decide to provide a take away service, you will need to notify the local planning authority when the new use begins and ends.
3. I am an Ice Cream trader, can I still trade?
Yes you are able to do this provided you comply with the government guidance-as 1 above. If however this leads to breached from social distancing you may be required to cease. However, licensed ice cream traders can trade as a takeaway according to Government Guidance by doing deliveries. This way you reduce customers visiting your pitch by taking telephone, social media and online orders using card payments with agreed collection times and door step delivery services.
You will need to display clear signage on the trading van enforcing customers to queue at a two metre distance, stand two metres from your serving area, and to wait in their cars until the order is ready. Please refraining customers from touching the counter of the vehicle.
