B&M Retail Ltd received a £2m penalty from Birmingham City Council for food hygiene violations stemming from mouse infestations at three locations in the Birmingham area. The enforcement action followed complaints that prompted environmental health inspections conducted between November 2024 and October 2025. The affected stores were located at St Andrew’s Retail Park, Priory Square Shopping Centre, and The Fort Shopping Park in Erdington.
Inspectors documented significant pest activity across all three premises. At St Andrew’s Retail Park, officers discovered gnawed food products available for sale following reports of pest activity on the premises in November 2024. At Priory Square, a member of the public reported observing a mouse in the store, and subsequent inspections revealed urine contamination on food packaging and shelving, inadequate cleaning practices, and structural deficiencies that permitted pest entry. The Fort Shopping Park location showed widespread evidence of rodent activity, including droppings found in close proximity to children’s toys on display. Both Priory Square and The Fort were subject to Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices and closed immediately due to public health risks.
The company entered guilty pleas at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced on 13 July. In addition to the £2m fine, B&M was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £18,104 and a £2,000 victim surcharge, with payment required within 28 days. Council officials characterized the conditions as unacceptable and emphasized the need for immediate intervention.
B&M stated that food safety and pest-control procedures had existed at each location but were not properly implemented. The retailer said it had implemented remedial measures including enhanced management oversight, expanded pest-control capacity, new digital monitoring systems, and increased third-party pest control services across its stores to prevent future occurrences.