Butchers Insurance | Insurance for Butchers Shop

A Butchers Shop Contains Many Hazards to both Workers and the General Public so Having the Right Insurance is Critical to Running your Business.

Employers liability, public liability and product liability insurance are all important for protecting the future of your business. smei has been providing specialist commercial insurance policies to the meat and food trading industry since we were established in 2002. Unlike some brokers who may not fully understand your business or have entered and quickly exited the market, we have consistently listened to our policyholders to ensure that needs are met to the best of our ability.

Today, we handle 35,000 policies providing stability for our clients. We provide reassurance that you are in safe hands by offering butcher shop insurance quotes from a selection of UK based insurers, offering products which have been designed to meet the needs of your industry.

We’re passionate about championing the high street and helping butchers like Beech's Butchers in Barrowford, Lancashire (pictured above). If you find your requirements are more unique and fall outside the usual areas that insurers typically offer cover for, then we can often still provide a quotation. These include:

Premises with flat roofs.
Risks with high sums insured.
Start-up businesses.
Proposals that have had large claims (including fire or flood).

Please note we are unable to offer quotations to businesses located in Northern Ireland.

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03301 620 311

Accidental damage.
Book debts/accounts receivable.
Business interruption
Contents insurance
Employers liability.
Glass.
Money in safe
Money on premises
Public and products liability

Buildings cover
Embedded breakdown
Goods in transit
Legal expenses
Loss of rent receivable
Subsidence
Tenants improvements
Terrorism

Premiums from as little as

£344

In the last 12 months our customers have paid as little as £344 per annum for butchers insurance. That’s just £7 per week!

50% of our butchers customers paid less than £697 per annum.***

Why Butcher Shop Insurance is Important

When working within the food retail industry with potentially hazardous equipment and machinery, it’s critical to ensure you are properly covered.

Risks can arise in many forms, relating to staff members, stock, and the equipment that you use. You may even face risk from fire, flood or theft from within the premises itself.

These risks mean that it is important to have the right level of cover to protect your livelihood, as well as the customers that visit your shop.

The types of cover that you can arrange include:

Public liability – this can protect you against your liability for injury to customers or even food poisoning.
Employers liability – this can cover you for your liability for staff injuries in the workplace.
Business interruption cover – this can provide financial protection for the business in the event of an insured risk. Settlement types can include loss of gross profit and loss of gross revenue. The length of time that the business interruption may cover will vary depending on your individual circumstances and requirements.

These are just some of the covers that are available to you. It is always advisable to speak to a broker who can guide you towards the right level of cover that is appropriate for you and your business.

About the Butchery Industry

Despite the introduction of meat counters within supermarkets and large stores, local butchers continue to sell their meat products to customers throughout the UK.

For many, visiting the high street butcher, it’s an opportunity to purchase locally sourced, high quality meats. You can ask questions and gain advice on the different cuts of meat available, and even ask your butcher to prepare the meat for a specific recipe you have in mind .

Running a butchers shop involves specialist knowledge of not only the meat itself and from where it is sourced, but also the machinery that is used within the butchers. It can often take many years to master the art of butchery, as well as passing that knowledge onto the staff that work with you. Often, that knowledge and skill has been passed down within a family from generation to generation of independent butchers.

* Please click here to view our pricing disclaimer.

** Standard and optional cover may differ dependent upon insurer.

*** Data compared from 310 policies sold in 2023. 61 customers paid £344 or less, which represents 20%. £7 per week is based on the annual premium divided by 52 weeks. However, paying monthly is usually more expensive as you'll pay interest. Amounts are rounded up or down to the nearest £1.

Frequently asked questions

The cost of your insurance depends on individual needs. Our butcher insurance policies are flexible and can be adapted to fit your requirements - we can match you with the right policy at the right price.

As you constantly have members of the public filtering in and out of your shop, public liability insurance is crucial. This type of insurance protects you if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged on your premises. Your contents and stock are your livelihood and protecting them will ensure your business doesn't suffer. Contents insurance protects your goods in the case of theft, damage or devastation such as fire and floods. If you have employees, you are required by law to have employers liability insurance (unless your employees are immediate family or your spouse). This protects you if an employee becomes injured or seriously ill as a result of working for you. Finally, you may want to consider financial protection and business interruption cover. Financial protection ensures that cash on your premises is safe. Similarly, business interruption cover is necessary to protect you in the event your shop is closed due to damage.

If you're unsure about the cover you need for your business, an expert like an insurance broker who understands the market, and the products inside out is invaluable.

Most brokers will also be able to provide you with impartial advice as they are not tied to any one insurer. This means they can shop around for you to find the best cover for your needs at a competitive price.

It is helpful to have any previous insurance policies handy, and any renewal documentation or information you have got so far. It doesn't matter if you don't have them though, we will guide you through the relevant questions. Basic details about your business and property will be needed, if you have any tools or stock to insure for example, their value would be required also.