Privacy Policy
Effective Date: March 19, 2026
1. Introduction
Chilimo ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our home kitchen marketplace platform ("Platform").
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Information: Name, email address, and profile photo provided through Google OAuth sign-in
- Chef Profile Information: Kitchen name, cuisine types, menu items, pricing, food photos, and kitchen descriptions
- Order Information: Delivery addresses, order history, and dietary preferences
- Communications: Messages between Chefs and Foodies, support requests, and reviews
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
- Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, search queries, and interaction patterns
- Location Data: General location based on IP address, and precise location if you grant permission, to show nearby kitchens and enable delivery services
- Cookies: Session cookies for authentication and preferences
2.3 Information from Third Parties
- Google OAuth: Basic profile information (name, email, profile photo) when you sign in with Google
- Payment Processors: Transaction confirmations (we do not store full payment card details)
- Map Services: Location and address data from Google Maps or Gaode Maps for delivery and kitchen discovery
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide and maintain the Platform, including connecting Foodies with nearby home kitchens
- Process orders and facilitate payments between Chefs and Foodies
- Display relevant kitchens based on your location and preferences
- Verify Chef identities and review kitchen documentation
- Send order confirmations, delivery updates, and important account notices
- Improve our services through usage analytics
- Enforce our Terms of Service and protect against fraud
- Comply with legal obligations, including food safety reporting if required
4. Location Data and Home Kitchens
Location data is central to how Chilimo works. We use location information to:
- Show you home kitchens in your area
- Calculate delivery distances and estimated times
- Help Chefs define their delivery radius
- Display your kitchen's general area to potential customers (exact addresses are not shared until an order is confirmed)
Chef Address Privacy: We understand that Chefs operate from their homes. We take special care to protect Chef home addresses. A Chef's precise address is only shared with a Foodie after an order is confirmed and only for the purpose of pickup or delivery. General neighborhood or area information may be displayed publicly to help Foodies find nearby kitchens.
5. Information Sharing
We may share your information with:
- Other Users: Chefs see Foodie names and delivery addresses for confirmed orders. Foodies see Chef kitchen names, general locations, menus, and reviews.
- Service Providers: Payment processors, cloud hosting providers (AWS, GCP), email services, and map providers (Google Maps, Gaode Maps) that help us operate the Platform
- Legal Authorities: When required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect the safety of users or the public
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
We do not sell your personal information to third parties for advertising purposes.
6. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including:
- Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
- Secure authentication via Google OAuth
- Access controls and role-based permissions
- Regular security reviews and updates
However, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
7. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion, we may retain certain data as required by law (e.g., tax records for Chefs, food safety incident records) or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention).
Order history and transaction records are retained for a minimum of 7 years for tax and regulatory compliance.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements
- Portability: Request your data in a portable format
- Opt-Out: Opt out of non-essential communications and marketing emails
- Location: Revoke location permissions through your device settings
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@chilimo.com.
9. Children's Privacy
Chilimo is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly.
10. International Users
Chilimo operates in multiple regions. Your data may be processed in countries other than your own. By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your data to the countries where we operate. We take steps to ensure your data is protected regardless of where it is processed.
11. Cookies and Tracking
We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. We may also use analytics cookies to understand how users interact with the Platform. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or a prominent notice on the Platform. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page indicates when this Policy was last updated.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at:
- Email: privacy@chilimo.com
- Support: support@chilimo.com