Russian and eastern european grocery shop

Eastern European communities, Russian speakers, and curious local shoppers looking for something different.

Mark-up on products bought from specialist wholesalers and importers. Chilled and fresh items and deli sales usually bring customers back each week.

• Choosing stock people want to buy
• Food safety and stock rotation
• Customer service
• Russian or another Eastern European language is helpful

• Food business registration with your local council, normally needed before you start trading
• Food hygiene, labelling and allergen rules, and rules on importing certain meat and dairy products, so check with your council and the Food Standards Agency
• Licence needed to sell alcohol (premises licence and a personal licence holder), check with your council
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire staff
• Rent, business rates and stock costs, especially short-dated chilled goods that can go to waste

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on your premises, stock and whether you add a deli counter. Rent, business rates and stock costs, especially short-dated chilled goods, are worth planning for.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on location, range and customers. Expect around 40 hours a week at minimum, and note that short-dated chilled stock can go to waste.

Check food business registration with your local council, normally needed before you start trading. Also check food hygiene, labelling and allergen rules, import rules for certain meat and dairy products, and whether you need a premises licence and personal licence holder to sell alcohol.