Catering Insurance

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How can Catering Insurance protect my business?

To put it simply, catering insurance is a type of business insurance that’s designed specifically for catering companies and other food service businesses. Only this type of specialist insurance can provide coverage for the unique risks associated with preparing, handling and serving food to clients.

Do I need Catering Insurance?

That’s up to you – but a catering insurance policy can protect you, your business, your staff, and your clients from the number of risks that come with providing a food service. For example, a policy could cover you if:

• An employee is injured
• Your kitchen equipment is lost or damaged
• A client gets food poisoning after they’ve eaten your food
• Your business is a victim of a flood or fire
• Your business is a victim of theft
• You suffer from cyber attack

Without catering cover, you risk being unprotected in the event that any of the above incidents occur.

What types of businesses need Catering Insurance?

The following types of caterers and catering businesses should consider getting specialised insurance cover:

• Cafes and restaurants
• Market traders and stallholders
• Fast food and street food vendors
• Pubs
• Wedding caterers
• Corporate event caterers

What insurance do I need for my catering business?

The types of insurances you and your business need depends on the nature of your catering operation. However, what we can recommend is what most insurance providers offer catering businesses. This includes:

Public liability insurance

Catering public liability insurance can cover you in the event that a third-party, whether they’re a supplier, client, or member of the public, is injured by something you’ve done.

Employers’ liability insurance

Legally required in the UK if you have employees, this insurance covers you if an employee becomes injured or ill as a result of their work.

Product liability insurance

If a customer claims they suffered food poisoning after dining at your restaurant or eating at a catered event, the insurer will investigate the food preparation and handling processes. If the claim is valid, they will cover the associated costs.

Business equipment and contents insurance

If a key piece of catering equipment breaks or is stolen during an event, this insurance would cover the cost of repairing or replacing it. Be sure to let us know exactly which equipment you’d like to covered, so we can find an insurer that can provide the coverage you need.

Get in touch with a member of our specialist team who can help you get a quote that’s perfect for you.

Other types of catering insurance

Not all types of cover come as standard with regular catering insurance policies. Many insurers offer various insurance extras or adds-ons that can support catering businesses, such as:

Commercial Property Insurance

This type of insurance is crucial for caterers who rely heavily on expensive kitchen equipment, vehicles, and stock to operate their business, whether it’s based in a dedicated commercial kitchen or involves off-site catering.

Cyber insurance

Designed to protect your business from the financial impact of cyber threats, such as data breaches, hacking, and other forms of cybercrime.

Business interruption insurance

This helps cover lost income if your business is unable to operate due to unexpected circumstances (e.g., fire, flood, or equipment failure) leading up to or during the event.

Income protection insurance

Financial support is particularly important for caterers, who often rely on physical ability and may be self-employed or running small businesses.

Legal expenses cover

This add-on helps cover the costs associated with legal fees, disputes and claims arising from your catering business, whether you cater for on or off-site events.

Personal accident cover

Catering can involve physical work such as lifting heavy equipment, working in busy kitchens, and dealing with sharp tools or hot surfaces, which makes personal accident cover particularly important.

Types of Catering Insurance

Each catering business and operation is different. That’s why there’re various different types of business insurance for caterers. These are:

Mobile catering insurance

Mobile catering insurance is specifically designed for catering businesses that operate from mobile units, such as a burger van trailer. It provides coverage for the unique risks associated with running a mobile catering business, including liability for accidents, damage to equipment, and more.

We can also offer event cancellation cover, generator cover, and stock insurance cover for these mobile businesses.

Catering van insurance

Catering vans differ mobile catering units in that they have been converted to be utilised as a kitchen. An example of a catering van is an ice cream truck, and we can offer you a unique policy that’s tailored specially to suit the risks these vehicles may face.

How much does Catering Insurance cost?

The cost of catering insurance cover will differ across each and every business. Because each caterer and business is unique and has it’s own coverage needs, the policy they’ll need will be differ and vary in price.

However, there are ways that you could potentially save some money on your catering insurance cover. You could:

• Install safety and security measures: fire alarms, security systems, and other safety equipment can reduce your insurance risk profile, leading to lower premiums.
• Avoid paying in monthly instalments: insurers offer a discount if you pay your premium annually rather than monthly. 
• Maintain a clean claims history: avoid making small claims that you can afford to pay for yourself, as multiple claims can increase your premiums.
• Increase your excess: choosing a higher excess (the amount you pay when making a claim) can reduce your premium - just make sure you can afford the excess if you make a claim.

You could also potentially reduce the cost of your insurance premium by speaking to an experienced insurance broker like Howden. We can offer a personalised service that price comparison sites can't, comparing a wide range of catering insurance policies, whilst also getting to know you and your business.

How do I get a Catering Business Insurance quote?

It’s easy to get a catering insurance quote with Howden!

As soon as you provide us with the following details, we can get started right away with helping you find a policy that supports your catering business:

• Your personal details
• The nature of your catering business
• The size of your business
• How long you’ll need cover for
• What level and types of insurance you need

You can get in touch with us today by either visiting us in your local Howden branch, giving us a call on 01993 221 922, or you can Get a Quote via our website!