Neighbourhood chinese grocery shop

Chinese and wider East and Southeast Asian households, students, home cooks and local restaurants or takeaways buying small amounts.

You buy from wholesalers and importers and sell at a mark-up. Fresh produce and popular staples bring regulars, while snacks and household items add margin.

• Stock buying and ordering
• Customer service
• Managing cash and margins
• Language skills help but are not essential

• Register your food business with your local council ahead of opening
• Imported products must meet UK labelling and allergen rules, so check the labels on anything you buy in
• Check the rules on selling meat, fish or other animal products, and on alcohol, which needs a licence
• Lease terms, business rates, insurance and fire safety are real costs to check before signing
• Fresh stock can spoil, so order carefully at first

Startup costs are typically around £25,000 to £90,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and opening stock. These are estimates, and fresh stock can spoil, so ordering carefully at first helps protect your budget.

Register your food business with your local council before opening. Check UK labelling and allergen rules for imported products, the rules on selling meat, fish or animal products, alcohol licensing, and lease terms, business rates, insurance and fire safety.

Monthly revenue is typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on location, range and how many households and local restaurants you serve. Margins and rent matter, so check your costs carefully before signing a lease.