Cork SuperValu Closed Twice in One Month Over Food Safety Breaches

A Cork supermarket was forced to close its doors twice within the space of four weeks following serious food safety violations, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has confirmed.

SuperValu Hollyhill at Hollyhill Shopping Centre received two separate Closure Orders from Environmental Health Officers during September, highlighting persistent hygiene and pest control failures at the retail premises operated by Crimdale Developments Limited, which is currently in receivership.

The store was first shut on 4 September 2025 and remained closed until 6 September. Less than a month later, on 29 September, inspectors returned and served a second Closure Order.

First Closure: Pest Activity in Food Areas

The initial closure order, issued under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998, found that the construction of the food premises failed to permit good food hygiene practices, particularly regarding contamination and pest control.

Environmental Health Officers documented evidence of pest activity in the deli area, with rodent droppings noted under and near the bakery unit and hot counter. Inspectors also found holes and gaps at the back of the hot counter.

Second Closure: Problems Persist

When inspectors returned just 25 days later, they discovered continuing structural and pest control issues, warranting a second immediate closure.

This time, evidence of pest activity was found under and behind the special offer refrigeration unit on the shop floor. Holes and gaps were again noted, this time in the cavity wall behind the sweet shelf on the shop floor.

Both closure orders stated these conditions created "a grave and immediate danger to public health" with a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, rendering it unfit for human consumption or contaminated in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed.

Systemic Failures Evident

The fact that similar violations were documented less than a month apart suggests the underlying structural and pest control issues were not adequately addressed after the first closure, pointing to systemic failures in food safety management at the location.

Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive of the FSAI, said:

"It's concerning that we continue to see serious and recurring breaches of food safety law. These types of breaches are preventable where food businesses have a proper robust food safety management system in place and ensure staff are adequately trained."

The FSAI chief added that the authority provides numerous free resources and a learning portal to support food businesses, including recently published guidance on developing food safety culture within businesses to prevent such non-compliance issues.

Wider September Enforcement Action

The SuperValu Hollyhill closures formed part of broader enforcement action in September. Environmental Health Officers served five Closure Orders and five Prohibition Orders on food businesses across Ireland during the month for breaches of food safety legislation.

Other closures included Wok In Noodle Bar in Dublin 2, New Leaf in Skerries (closed for sushi and sashimi preparation activities), and The MOMO House in Letterkenny, which has since ceased trading.

Common violations across the country included evidence of pest activity, inadequate temperature controls for chilled and frozen foods, absence of hot water and hygiene facilities, accumulations of grease and dirt in food preparation areas, and insufficient staff training in food safety controls.

Details of all food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI website, where Closure Orders remain listed for three months from when premises are deemed to have corrected their food safety issues.

The recurring problems at SuperValu Hollyhill serve as a reminder that even major retail chains must maintain vigilant food safety standards, and that the consequences of failure affect not just business operations but community trust and public health.