1Introduction
Welcome to FoodTradeHub ("we", "our", or "us"). FoodTradeHub is a global B2B marketplace that connects food suppliers, manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, and buyers. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, create an account, list products, post buying requests, or interact with other users.
By using FoodTradeHub, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our platform.
2Data We Collect
We collect information that you provide directly, information generated automatically, and information from third parties.
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Data: name, email address, password (hashed), phone number, country, and profile picture.
- Business Information: company name, business type, address, city, postal code, employee count, website, company email, and bio.
- Listing Content: product details, images, buying requests, quantity, budget, target price, packaging requirements, and shipping terms.
- Communications: messages sent through our platform, support tickets, and attachments.
- Payment Information: payment history, invoices, and transaction references. We do not store full card details — payments are processed by our payment gateway partner (YekPay).
- Authentication Data: if you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email, and profile picture from Google.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and time spent.
- Cookies: session cookies for authentication and preference cookies to remember your settings.
- Web Push Tokens: if you enable push notifications, we store your browser's push subscription endpoint.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
- Google (for OAuth sign-in)
- Payment gateway providers (YekPay)
- Email delivery services (for transactional emails)
3How We Use Your Data
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To create and manage your account
- To display your public profile, products, and requests to other users
- To facilitate communication between buyers and suppliers (messages, inquiries, quotes)
- To process subscriptions and payments
- To verify your identity and prevent fraud
- To send transactional emails (verification, password reset, notifications)
- To send push notifications if enabled
- To provide customer support
- To improve the platform, analyze usage patterns, and develop new features
- To comply with legal obligations
4Legal Basis for Processing
Where required by law (e.g., GDPR), we rely on the following legal bases:
- Contract: processing necessary to provide our services (account, listings, communications).
- Consent: for marketing emails and web push notifications (you may withdraw at any time).
- Legitimate Interest: for fraud prevention, security, and service improvement.
- Legal Obligation: for tax, accounting, and regulatory compliance.
5Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We may share it with:
- Other Users: if you are a supplier, your public profile, company name, and product listings are visible to buyers. If you are a buyer, your buying requests are visible to suppliers. Contact information may be hidden behind paid plans or require quota consumption.
- Service Providers: payment processors, email delivery services, hosting providers, and analytics tools.
- Legal Authorities: when required by law, subpoena, or to protect our rights.
- Business Transfers: in case of merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
6Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies for:
- Authentication: to keep you signed in across sessions (NextAuth session cookies).
- Preferences: to remember your language and display settings.
- Security: to prevent cross-site request forgery and detect suspicious activity.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may prevent you from using the platform.
7Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:
- Password hashing with bcrypt
- HTTPS encryption in transit
- Role-based access controls
- Regular security reviews
However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
8Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active, or as needed to provide services and comply with legal obligations. When you delete your account, we may retain certain data (e.g., invoices) for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention purposes.
9Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:
- Access — request a copy of your personal data
- Correct — update inaccurate information
- Delete — request deletion of your account and data
- Restrict — limit how we process your data
- Object — to certain processing activities
- Portability — receive your data in a machine-readable format
- Withdraw Consent — at any time, where consent is the legal basis
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@foodtradehub.com.
10Children's Privacy
FoodTradeHub is a B2B platform intended for business use and is not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.
11International Data Transfers
FoodTradeHub operates globally. Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your own. We take appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) to ensure your data remains protected.
12Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review it periodically.