Public Liability Insurance for Food & Beverage Manufacturers

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Protect your business if a third party is injured or their property is damaged due to your manufacturing operations, premises, or deliveries.

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We compare quotes from leading insurers

  • Allianz
  • Aviva
  • QBE
  • RSA
  • Zurich
  • NIG

PUBLIC LIABILITY COVER THAT PROTECTS YOUR PREMISES, VISITORS & OPERATIONS

What is Public Liability Insurance in Food Manufacturing?

Public Liability insurance (sometimes called Third Party Liability) is designed to protect your business if someone outside your organisation suffers injury, illness, or property damage because of your manufacturing activities. In food and beverage manufacturing, this often relates to your premises - factories, warehouses, packing areas, loading bays - and the day-to-day movement of goods, visitors, contractors, auditors, and delivery vehicles.

Even businesses with strong hygiene and safety controls can face claims. A visiting engineer could slip on a wet floor during a maintenance call. A delivery driver could trip on a damaged ramp. A contractor’s equipment could be damaged by a forklift. Or a member of the public could be injured if your operations affect third-party areas (for example, a spill in a shared service yard).

Public liability is not usually legally required in the UK, but in manufacturing it is often essential. Many landlords, customers, and supply chain partners expect it as a minimum requirement. Insure24 arranges public liability insurance for UK food and beverage manufacturers, tailoring limits and wording to match your business type, visitor exposure, and contractual obligations.

What Can Public Liability Insurance Cover?

Public liability cover can help pay compensation and legal defence costs if a third-party claim is made against your business. The exact scope depends on the insurer and policy wording, but most manufacturing public liability policies are built around these core areas.

  • Third-party injury – claims from visitors, contractors, auditors, delivery drivers or members of the public.
  • Third-party property damage – damage to a visitor’s property or a third-party’s equipment (subject to policy terms).
  • Legal defence costs – solicitors’ fees and litigation costs in defending a claim (often in addition to the limit).
  • Incidents at your premises – factories, warehouses, packing units, yards and loading bays.
  • Incidents arising from your operations – e.g., deliveries, offsite work, temporary storage or trade shows (where included).
  • Landlord requirements – many leases require public liability as a condition of occupation.
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Typical Public Liability Claim Scenarios in Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Public liability claims in manufacturing are often about premises safety and third-party movement. They can also arise from how goods are handled during loading/unloading, and how safe your site is for contractors and visitors.

Below are common examples that demonstrate why this cover matters - especially in busy production sites where multiple stakeholders visit (maintenance engineers, EHO visits, BRCGS auditors, insurer surveyors, customers, and delivery partners).

  • A delivery driver slips on a wet loading bay surface and suffers injury
  • A contractor trips over an unmarked cable or pallet and makes a claim
  • A forklift damages a visiting haulier’s trailer or a third-party vehicle
  • A visitor is burned after entering a restricted hot-process area without escort
  • A customer visiting for a factory audit is injured due to a fall in a stairwell
  • A spillage in a shared service yard causes a third party to fall
  • A third-party’s tools or equipment are damaged during onsite engineering work
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What Limit of Indemnity Do Food Manufacturers Need?

Public liability limits are usually purchased in set amounts (for example £1m, £2m, £5m, £10m+). The right limit depends on your visitor exposure, premises size, contract requirements, and the nature of your operations. A small unit with low visitor volumes may need a lower limit than a multi-shift site with daily haulier traffic and frequent audits - but many manufacturers choose higher limits to satisfy landlord and customer requirements.

If you supply large retailers or operate in multi-tenant industrial estates, you may find that £5m (or more) is expected. Some contracts specify the exact limit and require you to provide evidence annually.

Common Limit Guidance (Typical)

  • £1m–£2m – smaller sites, low visitor numbers, minimal contract requirements
  • £5m – common for manufacturers with regular deliveries, audits and landlord requirements
  • £10m+ – higher-risk sites, large volumes of visitors/hauliers, major contracts, multi-site operations

The best approach is to start with contract requirements and work backwards. We’ll help you balance protection and premium and explain how different insurers treat defence costs and policy excesses.

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Public Liability vs Product Liability in Food Manufacturing

This is a common area of confusion. Public liability relates to injury or property damage caused by your business activities, typically connected to premises and operations. Product liability relates to injury or property damage caused by the products you manufacture, supply or sell - for example, contamination, allergens, or foreign bodies.

Many food manufacturers need both. Public liability can protect you when a visitor is injured onsite; product liability can protect you when a third party alleges your product caused harm after it left your premises. Some policies combine both sections into a single “liability” policy; others separate them. We’ll advise on the cleanest structure for your business.

Examples

  • Public liability: a delivery driver slips in your loading bay.
  • Public liability: a visiting contractor’s equipment is damaged by your operations.
  • Product liability: a customer claims illness from contaminated product.
  • Product liability: an allergen labelling error causes a claim.
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Reducing Public Liability Risk: What Insurers Like to See

Better risk management can reduce the frequency of incidents and improve your insurance terms. Manufacturers that demonstrate strong site controls, visitor management and housekeeping often secure broader cover at better rates.

Site & Visitor Controls

  • Signed-in visitor procedures and escort rules for production areas
  • Clear pedestrian/vehicle segregation and marked walkways
  • Loading bay safety measures (anti-slip surfaces, signage, lighting)
  • Regular housekeeping inspections (spills, trip hazards, pallet storage)
  • Contractor management: RAMS, permits to work, induction processes

Incident Response

  • Accident book / incident logs with photos and witness statements
  • CCTV coverage for loading bays, yards and key visitor areas
  • Prompt hazard remediation and documented corrective actions
  • Regular training and toolbox talks (manual handling, slips/trips)
  • Forklift training and traffic management enforcement
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Why Arrange Public Liability Insurance Through Insure24?

Food and beverage manufacturing sites are busy environments. Your policy needs to reflect real-world visitor exposure, traffic management, and contractual expectations. We help you structure public liability cover properly and avoid common gaps that cause claims friction.

  • Specialist markets for food & beverage manufacturing liability
  • Guidance on limits required by landlords, retailers and supply chain partners
  • Support integrating public + product liability into one coherent package
  • Clear explanations of excesses, defence costs and key exclusions
  • Claims support and documentation guidance if an incident occurs
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How to Get Public Liability Insurance

We make it straightforward to arrange public liability cover, while ensuring insurers understand your risk controls and site setup. The result: quotes that are accurate and cover that performs when you need it.

  • 1. Tell us what you manufacture and where you operate
  • 2. Confirm visitor levels, deliveries, loading bay arrangements and any shared yards
  • 3. Tell us about safety controls, training and incident procedures
  • 4. We compare liability options and explain the differences
  • 5. Select cover and receive proof for landlords/customers
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Is public liability insurance legally required for food manufacturers?

Public liability is not usually a legal requirement in the UK, but it is commonly required by landlords, customers and supply chain partners. For manufacturers with visitors, contractors, deliveries and shared yards, it is often considered essential protection.

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What does public liability insurance cover?

It can cover compensation and legal defence costs if a third party is injured or their property is damaged due to your business activities, usually relating to your premises and operations. Cover depends on the policy wording, limits and exclusions.

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What limit of indemnity should a manufacturer choose?

Limits often range from £1m to £10m+. The right level depends on visitor exposure, premises and contract requirements. Many manufacturing businesses choose £5m or more to satisfy landlords and large customer contracts.

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Is public liability the same as product liability?

No. Public liability relates to third-party injury or property damage arising from premises and operations (e.g., a visitor slips onsite). Product liability relates to injury or damage caused by the products you manufacture or supply (e.g., contamination or allergen issues). Many manufacturers need both.

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Are contractors and delivery drivers covered as third parties?

They are generally considered third parties (not employees) and claims can be covered if the incident arises from your negligence, subject to policy terms. Insurers may expect robust contractor controls, signage and safe systems of work.

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Does public liability cover offsite work or deliveries?

Many policies cover work carried out within the territorial limits, but scope varies. If you have regular deliveries, installations, trade shows, or work at customer sites, tell us so we can ensure this is included appropriately.

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How can a manufacturer reduce public liability premiums?

Strong site controls can help: visitor sign-in and escort procedures, clear walkways, good housekeeping, CCTV, forklift training, traffic management and documented incident response. A good claims history and accurate descriptions also help insurers price fairly.

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How quickly can I get proof of public liability cover?

Once cover is in place, you’ll typically receive documentation promptly. If you need certificates to satisfy a landlord or customer, tell us during the quote process and we’ll help keep things moving.

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