For consumers on the outside, breweries, wineries, and distilleries are just like any other manufacturing business. But for the people who run these businesses – and the companies who insure them – it’s a completely new ballgame. Craft beverage companies do have some overlap in their needs to other food manufacturing businesses, but ignoring – that is, not insuring – what makes them unique puts business owners, employees, and customers at risk.
As with every industry that Arthur Blake Insurance serves, specialization is key. We design and develop custom policies for breweries, wineries, and distilleries tailored to the individual needs of each business so that every risk is assessed and there are never any surprises. To learn more and discuss your needs, contact us today.
What should be in an insurance policy for breweries, wineries, and distilleries?
Any craft beverage operation will need a combination of commercial insurance coverages to be fully secured. Let’s begin with the basics. All craft beverage insurance policies should include:
- Commercial property insurance (more on this below)
- Commercial auto insurance
- General liability insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Business interruption and extra expense coverage
- Product recall coverage
What makes craft beverage businesses so complex from a coverage standpoint is their relationship with the public. Unlike many other food production entities, breweries, wineries, and even distilleries often serve customers directly at an on-site taproom or tasting room. Many also have full-service restaurants. Whenever a business interacts directly with customers on-premises, this invites risk that a good insurance policy must account for.
Depending on the exact model of the business, this means securing additional coverages:
- Liquor liability
- Restaurant coverage
- Spoilage
- General liability for special events and facility rentals
An insurance agent or broker experienced in the craft beverage industry will take the time to understand the precise needs of your business and will be able to present a range of options to keep you protected within your budget.
Commercial Property Insurance for Craft Beverage Businesses
Commercial property insurance is a must for any business, but the standard, run-of-the-mill policies won’t cut it for breweries, wineries, and distilleries. It’s essential to work with your craft beverage insurance broker to develop a thorough and accurate accounting of your material needs when writing your commercial property insurance policy. Depending on the type of craft beverage operation you have, you should include:
- Equipment and mechanical breakdown
- Tank collapse
- Utility services
- Process water losses
- Wines and trellises
- Temperature change
- Power outages
- Automotive/fleet
- Excess coverage
- Contents/stock coverage
- Product contamination/spoilage
- Protection from loss, theft, or vandalism
Affording Craft Beverage Insurance
It’s a lot, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. The key is to work with a professional insurance broker who knows the craft beverage industry inside and out and who will represent you, not the insurance companies when negotiating your policy.
Arthur Blake Insurance in Dallas and Plano, TX, knows insurance for breweries, wineries, and distilleries. We serve a national clientele at every level of production, and we would love an opportunity to discuss your needs and discuss the savings and protection that we can offer to you. Contact us today to get started.