Open an eastern european grocery shop

Eastern European families and workers living nearby, plus curious local shoppers who want authentic ingredients.

You buy from wholesalers and importers and sell at a mark-up. Takings build up from regular weekly shops, with extra margin on deli items, baked goods and own-brand products.

• Customer service
• Stock ordering and cash handling
• Knowing the foods your customers want
• Speaking relevant community languages helps

• Register your food business with your local council well before opening (usually at least 28 days, check with your council)
• Food hygiene, labelling and allergen rules for imported and own-label products, check with Trading Standards
• A licence is needed to sell alcohol, and age checks apply to alcohol and tobacco, check with your council
• Public liability and stock insurance, plus employer's liability if you hire staff
• Rent, business rates and thin margins, so test your sums before signing a lease
• Check whether import rules affect any meat or dairy you buy directly from abroad

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and opening stock. Rent, business rates and thin margins matter, so test your sums carefully before signing a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on location, range and whether you run a deli counter. Margins can be thin, so check your costs against your expected sales.

Check with your council about registering your food business well before opening, usually at least 28 days. Also check food hygiene, labelling and allergen rules with Trading Standards, whether you need an alcohol licence, age checks for alcohol and tobacco, and import rules for meat or dairy.