Restaurants, bars, cafes, coffee shops, ice-cream parlours, caterers, canteens, and similar businesses are at risk of a wide range of events.
That’s where Food and Beverage insurance comes in. Designed with your business needs in mind to create the perfect package to protect your company.
Food and Beverage insurance protects your business from unexpected events and challenges, providing cover when you need it most for things such as business interruption, public liability claims, and theft.
Bi-me can provide you with multiple competitive quotes from some of South Africa’s leading insurers within minutes.
In short, yes, it is really important. Let’s take a look at why you need it, possible claims that could arise, and the types of cover you could need.
Does my business need Food and Beverage insurance?
Your food and beverage business is unique, having its own risks and insurance needs.
Insurance for Food and Beverage businesses is as essential as the food you serve and the customers that support you. Without the right insurance policy in place, one mishap or accident can bring your business operations to its knees and indefinitely close your doors.
Common claims that your Food and Beverage business could face
Slips and falls
Think of all the potential hazards you and your customers face every day. From spilt food or water to uneven surfaces – your business is at risk of someone falling, hurting themselves, and needing medical treatment. Restaurants are high-traffic places and a recipe for disaster without the right insurance.
Food poisoning
As a food business owner, it’s your worst nightmare to hear a customer was poisoned or fell sick from the food you serve. Aside from the horror of food poisoning, this could lead to serious liability and claims against your business. Can you afford multiple lawsuits without the safety net of Food and Beverage insurance?
What are the different types of hospitality insurance?
Food and Beverage Insurance
For a restaurant owner and other business owners in the food industry, you are exposed to a range of unique risks and legal dangers every day. There are customer interactions, staff liabilities, deliveries, and other public interactions – and an accident is almost inevitable from a wide range of sources.
Restaurant owners are constantly facing claims and legal repercussions from injury or poisoning, and without a sound insurance policy, you are left vulnerable to lawsuits and catastrophic financial costs.
Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability insurance was developed to protect business owners from accidental damage or injury as a result of negligent business activity, sustained by a customer, supplier, or member of the public.
The most common source of claims is made by customers of your business, Public Liability has helped keep many business owners in the game.
Because the most common source of claims against business owners are by their customers, and your Food business will interact with dozens of people every day – making insurance essential for all your potential liabilities.
Contents
If the items inside your restaurant or kitchen are damaged or destroyed, Contents insurance is designed to provide cover for the costs of replacement and repair.
This includes office content, plants and machinery, stock and materials in trade, and miscellaneous items, specially made to protect the valuable assets of your business.
One of the most common claims made for the Food and Beverage industry and Contents.
Glass
Due to the massive costs of the replacement of glass planes and other external and internal glass fixtures, Glass Cover is an essential part of any food business.
Most restaurants and eateries are designed with large glass windows, glass signage, or internal glass fixtures – and this creates a vulnerable point for your business and a potential financial strain should it break.
Vandalism, theft, and most commonly accidents, are always a risk of massive damages.
Business Interruption
Should your business operations have to halt or any interruption causes financial loss, Business Interruption insurance will protect you from a loss of income and increased costs of such events, which could include fire or property damage.
Every business owner needs to ask themselves if their business can afford to close its doors for one week or even a month. In almost every case, small business owners can’t afford this, and without Business Interruption insurance, you’ll likely suffer too great a loss.
Machinery Breakdown
Machinery Breakdown insurance covers the loss of unexpected machinery breakdown, and can also include the loss from business interruption – and machines covered in this section are sometimes required to have an active maintenance plan.
Every Food and Beverage business needs equipment and machinery to run, and without functioning tools, your operations will come to a crashing halt.
Theft insurance
Within the Food and Beverage industry, your business is exposed to the danger of theft every day. Protecting your money and valuable assets are part of every business owner’s responsibilities, and Theft insurance is designed with that in mind.
If your office contents, stock, machines, and other items inside of your buildings are stolen, Theft insurance covers you from the loss of such an event. This also includes attempted theft or armed hold–ups.
Money insurance
Running a restaurant or food business means you’ll most likely have large amounts of cash on hand, at any given time.
Money insurance protects your business money by providing cover for loss or damage to it whilst on your premises or in transit. If your business keeps more than R5 000 in cash and wants money insurance, it is important to have the correct safe.
Don’t let your policy go cold!
From buying your first policy to updating your existing cover, at Bi-Me, we can help you through each step and have you fully insured in no time!
The stress of a potential lawsuit or claim is no way to live. With the right insurance in place, you can have the time and drive to do what you do best – run your business.
At Bi-Me, We’re fiercely committed to the small business community, whether it’s to get a better deal or to assist with a claim. One of our core values is ‘no policy is too small for us’ and we’ll go the extra mile for everyone.
You can get instant online quotes available 24/7 – for purchasing insurance, making changes to your policy, or getting documents. Our website is mobile-friendly, so you can even add cover while on the move.
*This is general information only and does not take into account your financial situation, needs, or specific objectives. As with any insurance, the cover will be subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions contained in the policy wording.