Partnering with Liberty Specialty Markets to help Burger King UK monitor groundwater and wastewater flood risk 

 Burger King UK (BKUK) is the third most recognised Quick Service Restaurant chain in the UK with over 500 restaurants as of June 2022. Some of these sites are at a higher risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and wastewater. Flooding at their sites can cause a multitude of impacts including business interruption, financial loss, health and safety of staff and customers, property damage and contamination of stock and assets. At their Gloucester Road site, there is a wastewater network pipe that runs through the property, if that overtops it will cause flooding in that room and the rooms next door. 

As their insurer, Liberty worked closely with BKUK to help mitigate their flood risk, funding their use of The Previsico Flood Intel Platform. This encompasses flood forecasting, drainage, and waterbody monitoring to effectively monitor groundwater and wastewater drainage flood risk and sump pump contingency.  

The data provided by the Previsico Flood Intel Platform has provided BKUK with a new and heightened awareness of flood risk and surface water across the business. A risk analysis of their portfolio has also identified their locations that are a low, medium, and higher risk for flooding. Once these higher risk sites were detected, BKUK made it a priority to ensure the business continuity plans for these sites were improved.  

The area managers and property managers of these high-risk locations receive Previsico’s early flood warnings up to 48 hours in advance to ensure they have timely information to prepare and act in order to prevent flood impacts. Sensors were also installed in four locations at the BKUK site on Gloucester Road, London. This site was chosen because of their experience with water ingress, and it is a highly profitable site for the company. The real-time sensor data can be viewed via Liberty’s Risk Reduce portal which provides their customers access to support, guidance, and training to help them manage the risks they face in their business more effectively. 

Training has also been provided to managers at BKUK to improve their knowledge and heightened awareness on business continuity. 

• Revenue & asset protection: Protects infrastructure, stock, and equipment from water-related damage and provides balance sheet protection.  
• Employee & customer welfare: Minimises the chance of flood-related accidents and disruption for employees and customers 
• Reputation: Demonstrates BKUK’s approach to proactive risk management.  
• Increased resilience: Provides timely information on surface water flood risk to prepare and take action and mitigate impacts and losses. Also has provided resilience on insurer/brokers and the insured’s relationships.  
• Improved insurer relationship: Working closely with Liberty Specialty Markets to help mitigate their flood risk and improve their access to proactive solutions.  
• Improved business continuity: Previsico’s early surface water flood warnings are linked to BKUK’S business continuity plan, to ensure minimal impact to business interruption.  
• Education: Previsico’s data insights and BKUK’s business continuity plan provides management and restaurant managers the knowledge and tools to prevent impacts from flooding.