Fishmongers Insurance

A fishmonger’s shop can contain hazards for workers and the general public, so it’s important that your business is fully protected with the right insurance

A successful independent fishmonger will have a reputation for fresh, good quality ingredients that have been prepared to their customers’ requirements. Similarly, we make sure that our customers are fully insured with a high quality insurance package that has been tailored to their individual needs.

Life as a fishmonger is hugely rewarding, and every day can be different. But as the owner of a fishmongers shop, such as B. Shrigley & Son in Liverpool (pictured above), you know the hard work and dedication that goes into running your business.  We can take care of the insurance side of things for you, making sure that you’re fully protected, and leaving with you more time to spend doing what you love – running your business. 

Fishmongers source, prepare and sell fish to the public, and food safety is paramount. As you’re dealing with food, and staff members will often work with sharp tools, it’s important that you have your liability insurances up-to-date. Employers liability, public liability and product liability insurance are all important for protecting the future of your business.

If you find your requirements are more complex 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.

Why Insurance is Important for Fishmongers

Insurance is important for any business that works with food, especially when your employees are using potentially hazardous equipment.

Risks can come from the food itself, should a customer suffer from an allergy or reaction to fish they’ve bought from you. You could also face costs if an employee becomes ill or injures themselves, whilst at work.

We can also help you cover you for any loss of income that occurs should a disaster interrupt the running of your business.

The types of cover that you can arrange include:

• Public and product liability – protection from liability for injury to customers or their property – this is particularly important in the food industry as it can protect you in the event of food poisoning.
• Employers liability – this can cover you if an employee injures themselves in the workplace.
• Business interruption cover – this can provide financial protection for your business in the event of an insured risk. For example, covering your wages and expenses during a period of closure due to fire or a flood.

These are just some of the covers that are available, but it’s advisable to speak to a member of our team to establish exactly what you need to protect your business.

About the Fishmonger Industry

Whilst many supermarkets have introduced fish counters to their stores, fishmongers continue to be a popular place for customers to buy fresh fish.

Visiting a fishmonger is a great opportunity to support an independent business, and to source, fresh, high quality and often local ingredients on the high street.  Your fishmonger should be able to give you advice on the fish you’re buying, explain where it’s sourced from, and even advise on how best to fillet and prepare your fish for cooking.

Fishmongers are responsible for preparing and selling fish, and related products such as crab and other shellfish. Fishmongers are some of the most widely-skilled workers in the fish industry. They need to be trained in customer service, food preparation, product knowledge and have a high level of food hygiene standards [1].

[1] http://www.seafish.org/training/onshore-training/retail-fishmongering