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Hospitality & Retail Insurance

Customers, food, physical products, hospitality and retail face unique risks every day

Slip and fall accidents, food poisoning claims, theft, and property damage. When you serve customers directly, you’re exposed to claims that could close your business. Hospitality & Retail Insurance protects you from the risks other businesses don’t face.

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What could go wrong

(and why you need this)

When you serve customers directly, every interaction is a potential claim. Food poisoning, slip-and-fall accidents, theft, fire, hospitality and retail businesses face unique risks that could close you down overnight. One serious food poisoning outbreak or major customer injury can cost you hundreds of thousands in legal fees, compensation, and lost reputation.

Scenario 1

The food poisoning claim

You run a small café. A customer claims to have contracted food poisoning from your lunch special. They’re off work for a week and want compensation.

Their lawyer sends a letter demanding $15,000* for medical costs, lost wages, and suffering. Three more customers come forward with similar claims. Total exposure: $60,000* plus legal costs to defend yourself.

What Hospitality & Retail Insurance covers

Legal defence costs, food poisoning investigation expenses, compensation payments if you’re found liable, and PR support to manage your reputation during claims.

Scenario 2

The customer slip and fall

A customer slips on a wet floor in your retail store (you’d just mopped but forgot to put up the sign). They broke their wrist and can’t work for 8 weeks.

They’re claiming $45,000* for medical bills, lost income, and ongoing physio. Your Public Liability is about to be tested.

What Hospitality & Retail Insurance covers

Medical expenses, legal defence, compensation for lost income, court costs if it escalates, and your ongoing business protection.

Scenario 3

The break-in and theft

Your retail store was broken into overnight. Thieves steal $35,000 worth of stock, smash display cabinets ($8,000*), and damage your POS system ($5,000*).

You can’t open tomorrow without stock or a working till. Lost trading: $3,000*/day.

What Hospitality & Retail Insurance covers

Stolen stock at cost price, damaged fixtures and fittings, repair costs, temporary POS hire, lost income while you restock and repair.

Scenario 4

The kitchen fire

Your commercial kitchen catches fire due to a faulty deep fryer. Fire damage: $120,000*. You’re closed for eight weeks while repairs are being made.

Lost revenue: $80,000*. Staff wages you still need to pay: $25,000*. Regular costs continue, but income stops.

What Hospitality & Retail Insurance covers

Building and kitchen repairs, damaged equipment replacement, loss of income during closure, and costs to set up temporary operations if possible.

What this actually covers

Hospitality & Retail Insurance

Hospitality & Retail Insurance is a specialised package for customer-facing businesses:

Public & Products Liability:

  • Customer injuries in your premises
  • Slip, trip, and fall accidents
  • Food poisoning and allergic reactions
  • Product defects causing harm
  • Property damage to customer belongings
  • Legal defence and compensation payments

Stock and contents:

  • Stock and inventory (at cost price or retail price)
  • Shop fixtures and fittings
  • Displays, shelving, and furniture
  • Kitchen equipment and appliances
  • POS systems and technology
  • Signage and fit-out

Business interruption:

  • Lost income while closed due to an insured event
  • Ongoing expenses (rent, wages, loan repayments)
  • Extra costs to minimise disruption
  • Temporary relocation if needed
  • Accountants’ fees to calculate loss

Specific extensions for hospitality:

  • Food spoilage (fridge/freezer breakdown)
  • Liquor liability (alcohol-related incidents)
  • Outdoor dining area cover
  • Theft by employees (fidelity cover)
  • Glass breakage (windows, displays)
  • Terrorism and malicious damage

Specific extensions for retail:

  • Theft and shoplifting losses
  • Customer goods in your care (repairs, alterations)
  • Money and till cash
  • Stock in transit (deliveries)
  • Online sales and click-and-collect
  • Trade shows and pop-up stores

What may not be covered

  • Normal stock shrinkage or wastage
  • Market price changes or poor sales
  • Cyber attacks (separate Cyber insurance)
  • Professional advice (separate PI insurance)
  • Vehicles (separate Motor insurance)

When you need this

By founder stage

Start smart

Pre-launch to first year

You need this from day one if you’re:

  • Opening a café, restaurant, bar, or food business
  • Running a retail shop or store
  • Operating a food truck or mobile kitchen
  • Running markets stalls or pop-ups
  • Doing click-and-collect or local deliveries
  • Serving customers at physical premises

Typical coverage

$20M Public Liability (hospitality often needs higher), stock at replacement cost, 12 months business interruption, $5k-$20k for spoilage.

Scale strong

Growing and hiring

Your cover needs to increase when:

  • You’re opening additional locations
  • You’re increasing seating or retail space
  • You’re adding liquor licenses
  • You’re doing catering or events
  • You’re hiring more staff (Workers Comp required)
  • Your stock value increases significantly

Multi-site considerations

One policy covering all locations is easier to manage and often better priced than separate policies per site.

Stay protected

Established and optimising

Review your cover annually:

  • Update stock values (cost of goods changes)
  • Increase business interruption sums (revenue grows)
  • Add new locations immediately
  • Review liquor liability if you add or change licenses
  • Check food spoilage limits match your cool room stock
  • Update when you renovate or expand

Typical coverage

This is where things get custom, and you need to talk to the team at Pocket to evaluate your specific needs.

Common questions

Founders actually ask

Do I really need $20M Public Liability just for a small café?

Yes. A single serious food poisoning outbreak affecting multiple customers, or a major slip-and-fall injury, can easily result in claims exceeding $ 1 million. Many commercial leases require a minimum $20 million coverage anyway.