Make Food Allergen Safety Your Signature
THE SAFE SERVE FLAGS 6-STAGE PROCESS©
1. Notify the kitchen
A guest notifies your team of an allergen or dietary requirement. The server clearly writes it on the kitchen ticket and alerts the kitchen.
2. Sticker the Ticket
The Kitchen Manager or Head Chef applies the matching Safe Serve Flags allergen sticker. Instant visibility. No guesswork. One clear message for the whole team.
3. Prep with Care
Fresh workspace. Clean tools. Strict hygiene.
Every dish is prepared with extreme care to prevent cross-contamination.
4. Flag the Plate / Package
The correct flag is applied to the plate or the matching sticker to takeaway packaging — making allergen awareness visible from kitchen to customer.
5. Pass Check
A final check at the pass confirms the allergen flag matches the order. If there’s any doubt, the dish does not leave the kitchen.
6. Serve with Confidence
Only when every step is complete is the meal served —
protecting your guests, your team, and your business.
MEET THE
FOUNDERS
OUR STORY
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Safe Serve Flags was created by Tom Dawe and Josh Walton — hands-on hospitality owners running a busy beachside café in Cornwall. We built this system for a simple reason: we needed it ourselves. In a busy kitchen and fast-paced front-of-house, even great teams can miss things. We had a few near misses caused by genuine mistakes and poor communication between departments — not through lack of care, but because of the sheer pace and pressure of service. That was the moment we knew we needed a truly fool-proof system. We went looking for an off-the-shelf solution that was practical, visual, and built for real hospitality environments. Something that would keep allergen information clear from order to plate, even when it’s busy. But we couldn’t find anything that genuinely worked for the realities of day-to-day service — so we created it. Safe Serve Flags is a fool-proof, visual allergen management system that we use in our own café, every service. Built around our trademark 6-step process, it embeds allergen awareness at every stage so information isn’t missed, forgotten, or misunderstood. The result is simple: guests with allergies can feel safe and confident eating with us, and businesses can protect their reputation — even turning strong allergen management into a positive selling point that builds trust and improves overall perception.
FAQ's
What are Safe Serve Flags and why do we need them?
Safe Serve Flags are a visual allergen-management system designed to remove confusion and reduce risk in busy hospitality environments. They create clear, consistent communication from front of house to kitchen and through to service, helping teams manage food allergies with confidence. Visual cues at every stage reduce mistakes, improve teamwork, and reassure customers that their safety is being taken seriously.
How does the QR code training work?
The QR code provides a direct link to our online video training. It gives your staff everything they need to understand and correctly use the Safe Serve Flags 6-step allergen safety system, ensuring consistent procedures across your whole team.
How long does the training take?
The training video is 3 minutes long. Staff should take time to watch it fully and familiarise themselves with the 6-stage allergen-management process before working with the system.
Do we need to document training?
Yes. We provide access to a free Safer Food Better Business (SFBB) insert download, allowing you to evidence staff training. This helps demonstrate your commitment to allergen safety and provides clear documentation for your local Environmental Health Officer (EHO).
Why are there only 6 drawers when there are 14 allergens?
We’ve designed the system with 5 drawers for the most common allergens for speed and convenience. The 6th drawer is an “Allergens Checked” drawer, used for the less common allergens. A 14-drawer unit would be impractical and far too large for real-world kitchen use.
Are the flags food safe?
Yes. All Safe Serve Flags products are manufactured using food-safe grade materials in trusted, officially audited factories.
How often do I need to refill my box?
Ready to serve with confidence?
Our Testimonials
Rosie’s Kitchen
Head Chef
“Safe Serve Flags has brought real clarity to our busiest services. The visual system removes any crossed wires, keeps the whole team aligned, and makes allergen communication effortless from front of house to kitchen. It’s reduced pressure in service, increased confidence across the team, and ensures allergen safety is taken seriously every day.”
Tommy Jacks
Beach Hotel
“Safe Serve Flags has transformed how we manage allergens. The clear, visual system removes ambiguity, gives our team real confidence, reassures our guests, and makes even our busiest services feel calmer and more controlled.”
The Boat House
Chef/Owner
“I discovered Safe Serve Flags while dining out in Cornwall and was immediately impressed by the clarity of the system. Bringing it into The Boat House was an easy decision — it’s improved communication, reduced pressure during busy services, and given both our team and customers real confidence in our allergen safety.”