Cal-Surance Gets Piece Of Pizza Trade

NU Online News Service, Jan. 9, 9:39 a.m. EST?Orange, Calif.-based broker, Cal-Surance Associates, Inc., saidyesterday it had gained a slice of the pizza delivery insurancemarket with the purchase of the Gail H. Murrell Insurance Agency ofRancho Cordova, Calif.

Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Murrell provides insurance for used car dealers, and autoservice shops, but Cal-Surance noted its pizza restaurant ownersprogram as a key asset.

The Pizza Owners Program is available to members of the NationalAssociation of Pizza Operators only. As a result of theacquisition, Cal-Surance said it will serve as the exclusiveprogram manager. Travelers Insurance Company underwrites theprogram.

Cal-Surance said a unique and exclusive feature of the PizzaOwners Program is its liability coverage for employee-ownedautomobiles used for delivery. The program also provides commercialumbrella liability and workers' compensation, as well as coveragefor business personal property, restaurant equipment, loss ofbusiness income, general liability, burglary, robbery, employeedishonesty, basic medical and employment practices liability.

The acquisition "provides us with a new and unique program andestablishes a new relationship for our company with The TravelersInsurance Company," said Kenneth Masters, Cal-Surance president andchief executive officer.

Gail H. Murrell will remain with the company serving as aconsultant. Cal-Surance said it does not anticipate any staffingchanges with the acquisition.

Cal-Surance is an insurance sales, service and supportorganization comprised of several diverse and self-sustainingcorporations, including Lancer Claims and United Networks, Inc. Thecompany provides sales, claims, adjusting, risk management,reinsurance placement and excess and surplus lines operation.

The company is licensed across the United States and is anappointed agent/broker with more than 100 of the major insurancecarriers.