B&M Retail Ltd has been fined £2m for food hygiene offences at three Birmingham stores, where inspectors found mouse droppings and gnawed food products. Birmingham City Council took the retailer to court after environmental health investigations sparked by complaints between November 2024 and October 2025.
Inspections and findings
Inspectors visited the St Andrews Retail Park branch on November 11, 2024, following reports of vermin. They found substantial evidence of rodent activity, including mouse droppings and chewed food products still on shelves. A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was issued.
The Priory Square Shopping Centre store was inspected after a shopper complained about seeing a mouse. On January 22, 2025, officers found an active mouse infestation, gnawed food items, droppings, urine contamination on packaging and shelving, poor cleaning, and structural flaws allowing pest access. The store was closed immediately.
At The Fort Shopping Park, an inspection on October 27, 2025, followed a complaint about a mouse infestation. Officers found extensive mouse activity, droppings and nibbled food on the shop floor and in storage areas, with droppings near children's toys. The premises was shut down with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice.
Court penalty
B&M Retail Ltd admitted the charges at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on July 13, 2026. The company was ordered to pay a £2m fine, prosecution costs of £18,104, and a victim surcharge of £2,000, all within 28 days.
Councillor Sam Forsyth, Chair of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: "Residents rightly expect businesses operating in Birmingham to maintain high standards and provide safe environments for customers. The health and wellbeing of Birmingham residents will always come first, and the conditions identified by our Environmental Health officers across these stores were unacceptable and required immediate intervention to protect the public."
He added: "I welcome the work of our Environmental Health teams in identifying these risks and taking swift action. This substantial court penalty reflects the seriousness of the offences and sends a clear message that businesses must take their responsibilities seriously. Birmingham City Council will continue to take robust enforcement action where necessary to protect residents and ensure standards are upheld across the city."
