Food Safety & Compliance · Brisbane & SE Queensland

I help first-time food business owners get council-ready and open with confidence.

From your first council application to your opening day — I build the compliance foundation so you open on time, with everything in order. No guesswork, no costly delays.

Book a free 15-min call See how I help
ISO 22000 Lead Auditor HACCP Trained 6 yrs FMCG manufacturing Professional Indemnity insured

Built for people opening their first food business.

For first-time food business owners in Brisbane and South East Queensland who are pre-launch — and don't want compliance to be the thing that delays their opening.

You might be here because…

Sound familiar?

Council has told you something needs to change — and you don't know where to start.

You're months from opening and the paperwork is piling up.

Your fit-out is underway, but no one's told you what food safety documentation you'll need.

You want compliance done properly the first time — not retrofitted later.

Services

Three ways I get you open and operating safely.

Whether you're at concept stage or already trading, here's how I can help.

Lead service · Most first-timers start here

Food Business Setup & Licence

Get council-ready and open with confidence.

For first-time food business owners. I take you from concept to opening day — handling council applications, reviewing your fit-out design against food safety requirements, and mapping every step against your opening timeline.

What's included

  • Written compliance roadmap with deadlines mapped to your opening date
  • Food safety design assessment — equipment, layout, workflows, contamination risks
  • Design assessment submission and direct council liaison
  • Food business licence application support
  • Pre-opening compliance walkthrough before you trade

Scope note: I assess the food safety implications of your fit-out. Construction and structural decisions stay with your trades.

Start your compliance roadmap

Food-Safety Operating Pack

The day-to-day systems your business needs to run safely and pass inspection.

Cleaning schedules, temperature logs, supplier records, sanitising procedures, corrective actions — documented, practical, and scaled to your operation. Not generic templates: built around your menu, your equipment, and how your business actually runs.

  • Procedures tailored to your operation
  • Logs and records your staff can actually use
  • Handover walkthrough for you and your team
Book a free 15-min call →

Food Safety Program Development

For businesses whose licence category requires a documented FSP.

A Food Safety Program is a documented system covering all hazards, controls, monitoring and verification, built to FSANZ Standard 3.2.1. Not every business needs one, so I'll confirm with your council before scoping it. This is where my background in large-scale FMCG manufacturing matters — I've built and audited systems where one documentation gap shuts down a production line.

Book a free 15-min call →

Already operating?

I also work with established food businesses on:

  • Food safety compliance audits
  • Council readiness assessments before inspections
  • HACCP & food safety program reviews, rebuilds and revisions
Get in touch to discuss
How it works

A clear path from where you are to opening day.

1

Discovery call

Free, 15 minutes. We talk through your concept, timeline and where you're at. I tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit and what you'd need from me.

2

Engagement & roadmap

I build a written roadmap covering every step to opening day — council applications, documents, deadlines, and what's required from you at each stage.

3

Council & compliance work

I correspond with council on your behalf, prepare your food safety program, and guide your licence applications. You focus on your business; I handle the regulatory groundwork.

4

Pre-opening walkthrough

Before you trade, I come on-site to confirm everything is operational and inspection-ready — so your opening day isn't your first stress test.

Sophia Hegerty, Food Safety Consultant, Food Safe Brisbane
Sophia Hegerty
Your compliance partner

Enterprise-grade food safety, brought to your first venture.

I'm a food safety consultant with six years inside large FMCG companies — the kind of operations where one documentation gap can shut down a production line. I built compliance systems at scale. Now I bring that same standard to food businesses that are just starting out.

"I built systems that fed thousands. Now I bring that same rigour to smaller food businesses who deserve it just as much."

— Sophia Hegerty

Qualifications & credentials

Experience you can rely on.

ISO 22000 Lead Auditor certified
HACCP trained
6 years food safety & quality in large FMCG manufacturing
Professional Indemnity insured (BizCover)
Book a free 15-min call

Let's talk about opening with confidence.

Tell me a little about where you're at. I'll get back to you to arrange a free 15-minute call — and I'll be honest about whether I'm the right fit.

foodsafebrisbane@gmail.comI reply within one business day
@foodsafety.brisbaneFollow on Instagram
Brisbane & South East QueenslandOn-site & remote support

Start the conversation

Four quick questions — that's all.

Please add your name, a valid email, and your business type.

Your details are kept private and never shared.

Thank you!

Your message is on its way. You'll hear back within one business day to arrange your free call.