Catering Companies Insurance
Protect your catering business from food safety claims, event injuries and equipment damage with cover tailored to professional caterers.
Get in touchWhat is catering companies insurance?
Catering Companies insurance is a specialist policy that protects catering companies from the risks of serving customers, managing premises and employing staff. It typically includes public liability, employers liability and buildings and contents cover.
Running a catering companies business involves risks from food safety and customer injuries to property damage and staff claims. The right insurance means a single incident will not shut your doors.
Find insurers who understand the hospitality and food sector, so your cover reflects the specific risks your catering companies business faces.
Public Liability
Covers claims from guests and event attendees for injury or illness caused by your catering.
Employers Liability
Required by law if you employ anyone, covering employee injury or illness claims.
Products Liability
Covers claims arising from food and beverages you prepare and serve at events.
Commercial Vehicle
Covers your catering vehicles and equipment in transit.
Who needs catering companies insurance?
Event caterers
Providing food service for weddings, parties and corporate events
Corporate catering companies
Delivering daily catering to offices and businesses
Contract caterers
Operating canteens and cafeterias under contract
Bespoke catering firms
Creating tailored menus for private and luxury events
Licensing and regulatory requirements for catering companies
Catering companies must register with Environmental Health as food businesses. A Food Hygiene Rating is issued based on inspections of food preparation areas, storage, hygiene practices, and allergen controls. If you operate from a commercial kitchen, the kitchen must be licensed and certified for food business use. If you prepare food from a domestic kitchen, stricter rules apply, and you may only trade in very limited circumstances.
Most large catering events require proof of public liability insurance as a condition of hosting. Venues, hotels, and event planners routinely request insurance certificates and may specify minimum cover levels (often £5m–£10m for large events). Failure to provide proof may result in the booking being cancelled.
If you serve alcohol at events, you must check the host's licence and ensure your service complies with licensing laws. Some venues have restrictions on external catering, and alcohol service must be pre-arranged and approved. Your insurer must be informed of all alcohol service as it affects cover and premium.
Health and safety legislation applies to all catering operations. You must conduct risk assessments for food preparation areas, event setups, and staff working areas. Employers liability insurance is legally required if you employ any catering staff. Food allergy awareness and staff training on allergen handling are critical, as catering events often serve multiple customers with diverse dietary requirements.
How much does catering companies insurance cost?
£400 – £900 per year for a small catering company; larger operations with multiple staff and regular large events may pay £1,000 – £2,000
Real claims: what catering companies insurance covers
A catering company served a wedding meal where a guest suffered a severe allergic reaction to shellfish that was not declared on the menu. The guest required emergency hospital treatment.
Products liability covered the guest's emergency ambulance, hospital admission, specialist allergy treatment, medication, and compensation for the severe allergic reaction.
£16,200 total — £10,000 emergency treatment and hospital care, £4,500 compensation for allergic reaction, £1,700 legal representation and claims handling
A catering staff member was carrying a tray of hot soup at a corporate event when they tripped, spilling the soup on a guest, causing severe burns.
Public liability covered the guest's emergency treatment, hospital admission, specialist burn care, grafting, physiotherapy, and compensation for permanent scarring.
£24,500 total — £16,000 hospital and burn treatment, £6,500 compensation for burns and scarring, £2,000 legal representation
A catering company's staff member suffered a serious cut while preparing food at a venue, resulting in a hospital visit and required stitches. The employee required time off work to recover.
Employers liability covered the employee's emergency treatment, hospital visit, stitches, follow-up medical care, lost wages during recovery, and compensation for the injury.
£7,400 total — £2,800 hospital and emergency care, £3,200 lost wages, £1,400 compensation and legal fees
WHY CECIL
Built differently.
Event catering risks covered
Serving food at events creates specific risks from allergic reactions to slip hazards. Cecil finds insurers who cover event catering comprehensively.
Food safety protection
Catering companies prepare food at scale. Cecil ensures your products liability covers the volume and variety of food you produce.
Equipment and vehicle cover
Catering equipment and transport vehicles need proper cover. Cecil includes commercial vehicle and equipment insurance where needed.
Competitive quotes for caterers
Get options from specialist insurers to find catering company insurance from hospitality sector specialists. Relevant cover at fair prices.
Common questions about catering companies insurance
Do catering companies need public liability insurance?
Yes, public liability insurance is essential for catering companies. You prepare and serve food at third-party venues — including wedding venues, corporate offices, and private homes — where you do not control the environment and the venue itself may have its own liability obligations. Claims can arise from food safety incidents, injuries caused by your staff or equipment, and damage to the host venue's property. Most professional event venues, wedding coordinators, and corporate event managers require a current insurance certificate before confirming a booking. Some specify minimum levels — often £5m or £10m for large events. Without valid cover, you will be excluded from the majority of commercial events. The financial exposure from a single serious incident at a large event, such as mass food poisoning or a staff member causing a guest injury, can be substantial. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to determine the right level of cover.
Does catering insurance cover food allergies?
Products liability insurance covers claims arising from allergic reactions to food you have prepared and served, provided you have taken reasonable steps to manage allergen risks. Catering companies must comply with the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU FIR 1169/2011, retained in UK law), which requires disclosure of the 14 major allergens in food served at catered events. Your insurer will expect documented allergen management procedures, written menus with allergen declarations, and evidence that staff have received allergen awareness training. At large events, cross-contamination risks are heightened — buffet service, shared equipment, and high-volume preparation all create exposure. If a claim arises following a severe allergic reaction and your procedures are found to be inadequate, your insurer may reduce or contest the claim. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to confirm that your products liability specifically covers allergen incidents and to understand any exclusions that may apply.
Do I need commercial vehicle insurance for catering vans?
Yes, if you use vehicles to transport food, equipment, and staff to events, those vehicles must be covered by commercial vehicle insurance with an appropriate business use endorsement. A standard personal car insurance policy will not cover vehicles used for commercial purposes, and any claim made on such a policy could be invalidated. Commercial vehicle insurance for catering companies should cover the vehicle in transit and, ideally, the contents being transported — including chilled food, cooking equipment, and tableware. If your vehicle is used both for business and personal use, your insurer needs to know. If you operate a refrigerated vehicle for chilled food transport, the refrigeration unit and the temperature-sensitive stock inside may require additional cover. Third-party-only vehicle cover provides minimum legal protection, but comprehensive cover better protects your business assets. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to ensure your fleet is correctly covered for catering use.
What level of public liability do caterers need?
Most catering companies carry between £2m and £5m of public liability cover, but the required level will often be dictated by your clients and the venues where you operate. Wedding venues and corporate hospitality clients frequently specify £5m as a minimum in their supplier contracts, and some large venues require £10m for events with a guest count exceeding 200. The appropriate limit also reflects the scale and nature of events you cater — a private dinner for twelve carries very different exposure to a corporate gala for 400 guests. When tendering for high-value events or contracts, having £5m or £10m of cover in place demonstrates professionalism and compliance. Some public sector catering contracts also set minimum liability thresholds. Speak to an FCA-authorised broker who works with event and contract caterers to ensure your cover level meets the full range of client requirements.
Does catering insurance cover staff working at events?
Employers liability insurance covers your employees for injuries and illness sustained while working at any location, including client venues, outdoor event sites, and private properties. The legal requirement to hold employers liability cover does not change because your staff are working away from a fixed base. At unfamiliar venues, the risks may actually be higher — uneven terrain, different kitchen layouts, shared facilities with other caterers, and adverse weather at outdoor events all increase the chance of employee injury. Your insurer will expect you to conduct risk assessments for each event type and to brief staff on site-specific hazards before work begins. Temporary or agency staff engaged for specific events may or may not be covered under your policy, depending on your insurer's terms. Check this carefully and confirm coverage status with any agency staff you engage. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to ensure your employers liability extends to all event locations and employment arrangements.
What level of public liability insurance do catering companies need?
Most catering companies require between £2m and £10m of public liability cover, with the specific level driven primarily by client contract requirements and the scale of events catered. Smaller private event caterers may operate at £2m, while those servicing weddings, hotel banquets, and large corporate functions are typically required to carry £5m or £10m. Many event management companies and wedding venues include minimum insurance levels in their approved supplier agreements, and failure to meet those thresholds can result in exclusion from their preferred supplier lists. Demonstrating high cover limits can also be a competitive advantage when tendering for premium event contracts. The severity of a mass food poisoning incident at a large event justifies higher limits — multiple claims arising from a single event can quickly exhaust lower cover levels. Contact an FCA-authorised broker who specialises in catering and hospitality to ensure your limits are commercially appropriate.
Do catering companies need to be Food Hygiene Rated?
Yes, all catering companies must register with Environmental Health as food businesses and are subject to inspection resulting in a Food Hygiene Rating. The rating is issued on a scale of 0 to 5 and reflects the standard of food hygiene at your premises, your food handling practices, and the condition of your facilities and structure. Catering companies preparing food in commercial kitchen premises will be inspected at that kitchen. If you prepare food from home, stricter regulations apply and your ability to trade commercially may be limited. Clients and event venues frequently ask to see your Food Hygiene Rating certificate, and a rating below 3 can affect your ability to win or retain catering contracts. Environmental Health officers can also conduct unannounced follow-up inspections. Your insurer expects you to maintain valid registration and an acceptable rating as a condition of products liability cover. Speak to an FCA-authorised broker to confirm this requirement.
Does catering company insurance cover allergen claims?
Products liability insurance covers claims if food you prepare causes an allergic reaction, subject to the condition that you have taken reasonable allergen management precautions. UK food law requires catering companies to provide accurate allergen information for all food prepared and served, including at private events and corporate functions. Your allergen management obligations include maintaining written menus with allergen declarations, training all kitchen and service staff on the 14 major allergens, and implementing cross-contamination controls in food preparation. At large events, where multiple dishes are prepared simultaneously and buffet service is common, the risk of cross-contamination is elevated. If a claim arises and your insurer determines that your allergen controls were inadequate, they may contest or limit the claim. Evidence of staff training, documented procedures, and allergen-labelled menus is therefore essential. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to confirm your products liability explicitly covers allergen incidents.
Are catering companies required to have employers liability insurance?
Yes, employers liability insurance is a legal requirement under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 for any catering company that employs kitchen staff, waiters, drivers, or any other worker. The legal requirement applies regardless of whether staff are full-time, part-time, temporary, or on zero-hours contracts. The statutory minimum cover is £5m, though most commercial policies provide £10m. You are required to display a valid certificate and make it available on request. Catering environments carry significant employee injury risks — burns from hot surfaces and hot liquids, cuts from knives, back injuries from heavy lifting, and slips in unfamiliar kitchens are all common claims. If you employ temporary staff for specific events, confirm with your insurer that these workers are included within your policy. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to ensure your employers liability is correctly structured for the way your catering business operates.
Can I serve alcohol at events as a catering company?
Yes, but alcohol service is subject to the Licensing Act 2003, and the responsibility for ensuring the event is legally licensed rests primarily with the host venue. If the venue holds a Premises Licence that authorises the sale of alcohol by caterers operating on site, you can serve alcohol within those licence conditions. If the venue is unlicensed for alcohol — for example, a private marquee in a garden — a Temporary Event Notice must be obtained from the local authority before the event. Some venues have exclusive alcohol supply agreements that prohibit external caterers from providing their own bar service. You must also notify your insurer of any alcohol service activity, as this affects your liability profile and may alter your premium or policy conditions. Serving alcohol to minors or intoxicated guests can affect the validity of a claim. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to ensure alcohol service is correctly disclosed and covered.
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