A Brisbane bakery, Gathered Bakers, is grappling with a frustrating insurance dispute after a severe storm wreaked havoc on its premises two months ago. Currently operating from a temporary kitchen, the bakery is accumulating significant financial losses while awaiting essential repairs. Owner Bronwyn Jukes is embroiled in a conflict with her landlord’s insurer, CGU, following the storm on December 16, which rendered the site uninhabitable according to engineers’ assessments.
Jukes describes her experience as akin to “talking to a blank wall,” expressing frustration over the lack of progress in her case. Despite numerous communications, she reports no significant advancements, stating that she is still awaiting a quote for the repairs eight weeks later. The ongoing situation has severely restricted her ability to operate the business efficiently, with both personal stress and production levels at an all-time low.
Jukes emphasises the strain this has caused, highlighting that she’s only managing to produce half of her usual output due to limited oven capacity. In response, CGU has informed that efforts are underway to expedite the settlement process and review a builder’s quote swiftly.