Discover how strategic insurance restructuring and industry expertise transformed a food processor's inadequate coverage into a comprehensive risk management program.
The Situation
A St. Louis-area meat processor was operating with dangerous coverage gaps despite paying substantial premiums. Their existing broker provided no claims support, lacked industry expertise, and had no strategy to control rising insurance costs.
Key Wins
Why They Needed Change
The client faced critical vulnerabilities that threatened their business stability:
Equipment Risk: $25,000 Spoilage & Ammonia coverage wouldn't cover even a single significant incident
Product Safety: $500,000 Recall coverage left them exposed to catastrophic recall events
Cost Control: Premiums were rising with no strategy to stabilize them
Expert Support: Lack of broker expertise in food industry meant missed opportunities and improper coverage design
Claims Management: No claims advocacy or safety program support increased their risk exposure
The Cottingham & Butler Approach
Strategic Planning & Analysis
Implemented a strategic roadmap targeting captive readiness through SMSC engagement, specifically focusing on reducing workers' compensation claim frequency with a clear 2025 captive option goals.
Industry Expertise & Program Development
Leverage specialized knowledge in food processing and large single location property placements to provide comparative benchmarking data, revealing adequate pricing but critical coverage gaps.
Designed a comprehensive program solution through detailed operational assessment and targeted marketing efforts, carefully calibrated to the client's risk tolerance profile.
Relationship Building & Lasting Vision
Cultivated strong partnerships with both Owner and CFO throughout the sales process, successfully securing the CFO as an internal champion for their initiatives.
Established a differentiated approach by focusing on generating long-term competition rather than conventional annual insurance cycles, demonstrating strategic foresight.