Business pack, equipment breakdown, public liability, and business interruption for Queensland cafes, restaurants, and food businesses — where a single equipment failure can close you for the day, and a single claim can close you for good.
These are the exposures that regularly catch Cafes, Restaurants & Food Businesses off guard — often because they weren't on anyone's radar until a claim was already underway.
A commercial refrigeration failure, oven breakdown, or espresso machine fault doesn't just create a repair cost — it stops revenue immediately. Business packs vary significantly in how they treat equipment breakdown, and many standard products don't cover the loss of trade that follows.
Food poisoning, allergic reactions, and contamination events create public liability exposure that can be significant. A claim from a group of people affected by a food incident at your premises is a genuine risk in food service — and the legal costs of defending it are substantial even when the claim ultimately fails.
Cafes and restaurants handle cash, carry stock, and employ transient staff across irregular hours. Theft — internal and external — is one of the most common claims for hospitality businesses, and many standard business packs set low sub-limits that don't reflect the actual exposure.
A grease trap fire, storm damage to the shopfront, or water damage to the kitchen doesn't just create a reinstatement cost — it stops revenue for weeks or months while repairs happen. A well-structured business interruption policy covers the gross profit you lose during that period, not just the building damage.
For licensed venues, the service of alcohol creates specific liability exposure — including incidents that occur off-premises following service. Liquor liability is an endorsement that should be explicitly included in your public liability policy, not assumed.
Many cafe and restaurant leases impose insurance obligations on the tenant — specific liability limits, plate glass cover, and lease reinstatement requirements. If your policy doesn't match your lease obligations, you may be in breach before anything has even gone wrong.
The insurance products most relevant for Cafes, Restaurants & Food Businesses — placed through insurers we deal with regularly.
The core policy for hospitality businesses. Covers buildings or tenant improvements, contents, stock, cash, and general liability under one policy — structured around the specific risks of a food service business.
Covers your legal liability for injury to customers, suppliers, and third parties — including food-related claims. Liquor liability endorsements are available for licensed venues.
Pays the gross profit you lose while your business cannot trade following an insured event — fire, water damage, storm, or equipment failure. The indemnity period and revenue basis matter enormously in how a claim is settled.
Covers sudden mechanical or electrical breakdown of commercial cooking equipment, refrigeration, and HVAC systems — including the cost of spoiled stock and loss of trade while equipment is being repaired.
Three reasons to consider using a broker rather than buying direct.
Commercial food service leases impose specific insurance requirements on tenants. We review your lease requirements with you at inception, before a landlord dispute or a claim makes any gap obvious.
A business interruption policy that pays a fraction of your actual lost revenue is almost as bad as no cover. We discuss the indemnity period and gross profit basis with you, based on your revenue pattern.
A fire or flood event in a hospitality business is physically and operationally disruptive. We support you through the claim process, from the initial loss notification through to final settlement.
Tell us about your situation and a broker will come back to you — no jargon, no pressure, no obligation.
General advice warning: any advice we provide is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on it, consider whether it is appropriate for you and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and our Financial Services Guide.
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