Insurance for canteens and contract catering in Germany
In a canteen in Germany hundreds of people eat the same meal every lunchtime. If something goes wrong with chilling or cooking, it is not one guest who falls ill but many at once. On top of that, the kitchen equipment often belongs to the client. Whether you run a staff restaurant, supply schools or offer contract catering for care homes, this page shows what should be insured and what it costs.
If the food was the cause, your business is liable for medical costs, lost earnings and damages for pain and suffering. Public liability with product liability for food pays this. Choose a limit that can handle many claimants at the same time, and recall costs if you also deliver packed food.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Many ill at once
Salmonella in a dessert or a broken cold chain: in contract catering dozens of people can fall ill quickly.
02
Cooling failure
A compressor dies over the weekend, and on Monday the whole cold room goes in the bin.
03
Fat fire
Fryer, tilting pan and extraction hood: a fat fire can shut the kitchen for weeks.
04
Someone else's kitchen
Many canteens are leased. Combi steamers and dishwashing lines often belong to the client, but you pay if your team damages them.
05
Allergens
An allergen not declared on the menu sends a guest into severe shock.
06
Accidents in the team
Wet floors, hot liquids and sharp knives make kitchens accident prone workplaces.
Six things that really happen in canteens and central kitchens, all on one Monday here. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€102,000
The cold room failed over the weekend; meat and dairy have spoiled.
€7,500 · Paid by: Machinery breakdown
During cleaning the client's combi steamer is damaged and its control unit destroyed.
€9,000 · Paid by: Business liability
The van with lunch for a primary school scrapes a parked car while manoeuvring.
€2,500 · Paid by: Car insurance
A guest goes into anaphylactic shock over undeclared nuts and is taken to hospital.
€15,000 · Paid by: Business liability
A fat fire at the fryer spreads to the hood; the kitchen stays closed for three weeks.
€28,000 · Paid by: Business interruption
Thirty of the client's staff report stomach problems after lunch.
€40,000 · Paid by: Business liability
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €102,000
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Have damage to the leased kitchen and the client's equipment named in your liability policy.
Choose a limit that can cover food poisoning with many claimants at once.
Agree cover for spoiled chilled goods after machinery breakdown or power cuts.
Check the lease to see who must insure which equipment, and match your policies to it.
Keep Infection Protection Act instructions up to date and documented, temporary staff included.
If you supply schools or nurseries, include transport and serving on site in your liability cover.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We compare for you
Norman Nammert works as an independent insurance broker. We approach several insurers and lay out liability, kitchen equipment and business interruption side by side.
We read the lease with you
Who insures which kitchen and which equipment is often set out in the lease. We match your cover so nothing is insured twice or not at all.
Family run since 1989
We have arranged insurance since 1989. Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
What insurance does a canteen need?
Public liability with product liability for food and cover for damage to leased premises.
Add machinery, contents and business interruption, depending on who owns the kitchen.
How much is liability for a staff canteen?
From our quoting work, a canteen serving up to 300 meals a day pays about €400 to €1,200 a year;
supplying many sites costs considerably more.
What do kitchen staff need before starting?
A certificate of instruction under § 43 IfSG that is no more than three months old.
After that the employer repeats the instruction every two years and documents it.
Who insures the kitchen if I only lease it?
The lease decides.
Often the owner insures building and equipment,
but you are liable for damage your team causes, which needs cover for damage to leased property.
Is food spoiled in a power cut covered?
Only if spoiled chilled goods are agreed, usually in machinery or contents insurance.
Without that clause you pay yourself.
Is my kitchen team covered for accidents at work?
Yes, employees have statutory accident insurance under § 2 SGB VII.
Group accident insurance can add leisure cover and higher benefits.
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