The Hanover Helps Agents Tap Into Growing Craft Brewing Industry

WORCESTER, Mass., June 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the craft brewing industry continues to grow—reporting a 15 percent jump in sales during 2011—The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), is helping independent agents tap into the growing beer business.

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Through Hanover Craft Brewers Advantage, The Hanover's agent partners can solve the unique challenges faced by small to mid-sized craft brewers, contract brewers, microbreweries, breweries and brew pubs. The distinctive solution combines unique coverages, local expertise and risk management solutions to help brewers protect against their specialized risks. It also can be customized to meet the individual needs of each business.

Craft Brewers Advantage is one of the many industry-specific products and services within The Hanover's Middle Market Advantage portfolio, which covers dozens of industry-specific niches and segments. This distinctive offering helps the company's agent partners capitalize on opportunities in specialized, growth industries, creating more value for their agencies.

"We are very pleased to help our partner agents offer a distinctive program for the craft brewing industry," said Jack Roche, president, business insurance.  "Much like the talented brewers in the craft brewing industry, which combine unique flavor choices to create beers that appeal to different taste buds, we can combine coverages to provide individualized protection for each customer."

"As a result of our specialized offerings, The Hanover Craft Brewers Advantage is gaining momentum. We currently insure many brewing operations, including more than 20 percent of the Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the country," said Roche.  Craft Brewers Advantage is offered to agents through The Hanover's local middle market underwriters.

The total solution covers a brewery's property, autos, employees, and customers as well as risks such as goods in transit, professional liability, employment practices liability, and fidelity & crime. The Hanover's Craft Brewers Advantage also enables craft brewers to take advantage of the company's loss control expertise in this industry, including assessments and recommendations for improving their property and theft risks, process flow, disaster preparedness/business continuity plans, storage techniques, and quality control plans. Other highlights of Craft Brewers Advantage include:

Brewers Spoilage, Contamination and Change in Temperature—proprietary coverage includes protection against contamination by refrigerant, power outage, mechanical breakdown, contaminant introduced during storage, and cooling and humidity control equipment. Coverage includes loss control services such as infrared testing, equipment inspection and assistance sourcing replacements for damaged equipment

Property Broadening Endorsement—includes 55 separate coverages such as foundation and pipes, e-commerce and research and development documentation. The blanket  limit also automatically includes  ten  important coverages: accounts receivable; consequential loss of stock; deferred payments; electronic data processing equipment; fine arts; personal effects; outdoor property; valuable papers and fire department service charge & equipment recharge

Transit Broadening Endorsement—for coverages against damage of raw ingredients or finished product occurring during transit up to $50,000. Hanover's inland marine coverage is also available for larger limit requests

Liquor Liability Coverage—provides a separate liquor liability limit up to $1 million with state-specific umbrella limits available

General Liability Broadening Endorsement—covers product recall expense for expenses incurred by insured or others for loss of use, withdrawal, recall, inspections, repair, replacement, adjustment, removal or disposal of the product

Agents interested in more details on The Hanover's middle market capabilities, including Craft Brewers Advantage, should reach out to the company through one of its local branch offices, which can be found at www.hanover.com.

About The Hanover

Founded in 1852, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) is proud to be celebrating 160 years of delivering on its promises to its agent partners and their customers. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to businesses, individuals, and families through a select group of agents and brokers, and is ranked among the top 25 property and casualty companies in the United States.

Based in Worcester, Mass., The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Michigan, Chaucer Holdings PLC, based in London, and their affiliates. Through Chaucer, the company underwrites business at Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes, including property, marine and aviation, energy, U.K. motor and casualty. For more information, please visit www.hanover.com.

CONTACT:

Amy Banek
Media Relations               
[email protected] 
(508) 855-4486

SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.