A fruit and vegetable distributor has been fined more than £100,000 after repeated food hygiene failures.
K Veg Wholesale Ltd, based in Ullswater Crescent, Coulsdon, supplies retailers and shops across the UK.
Its poor practices put many customers at risk, Croydon Council said.
Inspections found pigeon droppings on food, rat droppings nearby, and evidence of gnawed stock.
The council said there was very little care taken to protect food from pests.
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Jason Perry, executive mayor of Croydon, said: "We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to businesses that put our residents' health at risk through poor food hygiene standards.
"Our food safety team works hard to protect residents and support businesses to operate within the law. Where businesses ignore repeated warnings and fail to meet basic standards, we will take enforcement action and will not hesitate to prosecute."
The council’s food safety team issued several hygiene improvement notices to the company, all of which went ignored.
Company director Vettivelu Thiraviyathasan pleaded guilty on behalf of the business at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.
The company was fined £100,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000, and was told to cover the council’s costs of £5,097.37, bringing the total penalty to £107,097.37.
