Effective date: April 29, 2026
The HomeTaste Foodtech Inc. | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
This Privacy Policy explains how The HomeTaste Foodtech Inc. collects, uses, shares, stores, and protects information when customers use the The HomeTaste Customer app and related customer services.
1. About The HomeTaste Customer App
The HomeTaste Customer app helps customers discover home-style food options, browse kitchens and dishes, place orders, manage account information, make payments, and receive order-related updates.
The HomeTaste operates as a marketplace and technology platform that connects customers with independent home cooks, kitchens, and delivery or support partners. We do not directly prepare every food item listed on the platform.
This policy applies to customers using the Customer app. Separate privacy information may apply to cooks, kitchen partners, drivers, delivery partners, or business partners.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information needed to operate the Customer app, process orders, support deliveries, manage customer accounts, process payments, provide customer support, and keep the platform safe.
| Category | Examples | How We Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Personal information | Name, email address, phone number, user ID, account details | Account creation, login, account management, customer support, order handling, and platform safety |
| Address information | Saved delivery addresses and order delivery address | Order delivery, delivery availability, support, and service-area validation |
| Payment information | Payment method details handled by Stripe, payment status, transaction identifiers, refunds, and payment confirmations | Payment processing, order checkout, receipts, refunds, dispute handling, fraud prevention, and support |
| Purchase history | Orders placed, dishes purchased, order totals, order status, refunds, and subscription or MealBox history where applicable | Order fulfillment, receipts, customer support, tax/accounting records, and service improvement |
| Photos | Profile photo or image uploaded by the customer, where this feature is used | Account profile display and account management |
| Health-related order information | Allergy notes, dietary notes, food restrictions, food preferences, or order instructions that may reveal health-related information | Helping cooks and kitchens prepare orders according to customer instructions |
| App activity | In-app search history, browsing activity, order notes, reviews, ratings, and other user-generated content | App functionality, search, order history, reviews, customer support, and service improvement |
| Device or other identifiers | Device identifiers, notification tokens, app identifiers, or similar technical identifiers | Login support, push notifications, app functionality, fraud prevention, account management, and platform security |
3. Location and Address Information
The Customer app collects delivery addresses that customers enter or save for orders. Delivery addresses are used to confirm service availability, complete deliveries, provide order support, and maintain order records.
The current Customer app privacy disclosures are based on address information entered by users, not continuous live background location tracking. If we add device-based precise location, background location, or live location tracking in the future, we will update this Privacy Policy and request any required device permissions.
4. Payment Processing
Payments in the Customer app are processed by Stripe. The HomeTaste does not store full credit card numbers, CVV codes, or full payment credentials on our own servers.
Stripe may collect and process payment information to complete transactions, prevent fraud, support refunds, and comply with payment-related legal and security requirements. The HomeTaste may receive limited payment-related information such as payment status, transaction ID, card brand, last four digits, refund status, dispute status, and receipt information.
5. Why We Use Customer Information
We use customer information for the following purposes:
- Creating, verifying, and managing customer accounts
- Authenticating customers using phone number and OTP-based login
- Displaying kitchens, menus, dishes, carts, checkout, and orders
- Processing orders, payments, refunds, and receipts
- Sharing order details with cooks, kitchens, and delivery partners where needed
- Providing customer support and responding to questions or complaints
- Managing reviews, ratings, order notes, and customer-generated content
- Preventing fraud, misuse, unauthorized access, and platform abuse
- Sending order updates, transactional messages, support responses, and important account notices
- Maintaining business, tax, accounting, legal, and food-safety records
- Improving app functionality and customer experience
6. Information We Share
We do not sell customer personal information. We share customer information only where needed to operate the platform, complete orders, support customers, comply with law, or protect the safety and integrity of the service.
| Recipient | Information Shared | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks and kitchen partners | Customer name or first name, order details, order notes, allergy/dietary instructions, purchase/order history related to that cook, and limited contact or delivery-related information where needed | Preparing the order, handling customer instructions, managing order status, and resolving order issues |
| Delivery partners | Name, delivery address, order details, delivery instructions, and limited contact details where needed | Completing delivery and resolving delivery issues |
| Stripe | Payment information, transaction details, payment status, and fraud-prevention signals | Secure payment processing, refunds, disputes, receipts, and fraud prevention |
| Service providers | Information needed for hosting, storage, notifications, analytics where used, customer support, security, and app operations | Operating and securing the Customer app and related services |
| Internal admin and support systems | Account, order, support, payment-status, review, and delivery-related information | Support, operations, refunds, issue resolution, safety, and compliance |
| Legal or regulatory authorities | Information legally required or reasonably necessary | Legal compliance, safety, fraud prevention, dispute handling, and protection of rights |
7. Reviews, Ratings, Search, and User-Generated Content
Customers may be able to submit reviews, ratings, order notes, dietary notes, allergy notes, or other content through the Customer app. This information may be shared with cooks, kitchens, delivery partners, or internal support teams where needed to prepare orders, improve service, manage reviews, or resolve issues.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that the information they submit is accurate and does not include unnecessary sensitive personal information.
8. Phone Number and OTP Login
The Customer app may use phone number and one-time password authentication to create, verify, and access customer accounts. We may use phone numbers for login, order support, delivery support, account security, fraud prevention, and important transactional communication.
Where contact between customers, cooks, delivery partners, or support is required, we aim to limit contact information to what is needed for the specific order or support request.
9. Cookies, Tracking, and App Technologies
The Customer app and website may use cookies, local storage, device identifiers, notification tokens, or similar technologies to keep users signed in, support app functionality, remember preferences, send notifications, improve reliability, and protect the platform from fraud or misuse.
If we use analytics, advertising, or marketing technologies in the future, we will update this Privacy Policy and any required app store disclosures.
10. Marketing and Communications
We may send transactional messages such as OTPs, order confirmations, delivery updates, receipts, support replies, account notices, and safety-related messages.
Promotional or marketing communications will only be sent where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe option in the message or by contacting us.
11. How We Protect Information
We use safeguards designed to protect customer information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, and disclosure.
- User data collected by the app is encrypted in transit using secure connections where applicable.
- Payments are handled through Stripe and The HomeTaste does not store full card numbers or CVV codes.
- Access to customer information is limited to authorized personnel and service providers who need it for legitimate business purposes.
- We use technical, administrative, and organizational safeguards to protect account, order, and payment-related information.
No method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect information using reasonable safeguards appropriate to the nature of the data.
12. Storage and International Processing
We may store and process information using secure cloud infrastructure and trusted service providers. Some information may be processed in Canada, the United States, or other countries where our service providers operate.
When information is processed outside Canada, it may be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction. We use safeguards designed to protect customer information when working with service providers.
13. How Long We Keep Information
We keep information only for as long as reasonably needed for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer period is required or permitted by law.
| Information Type | Typical Retention |
|---|---|
| Account information | While the account is active and for a reasonable period after closure where needed for legal, support, fraud prevention, or operational reasons |
| Order and purchase history | As needed for tax, accounting, customer support, refund, dispute, legal, and food-safety purposes |
| Payment-related records | As needed for payment processing, refunds, disputes, accounting, fraud prevention, and legal compliance |
| Support communications | As needed to respond to requests, maintain service quality, and manage disputes or safety concerns |
| User-generated content | As needed for reviews, order history, dispute resolution, food-safety records, and platform operations |
14. Account Deletion
Customers can request deletion of their The HomeTaste Customer app account and associated personal data.
To request account deletion, please visit:
Request Customer Account Deletion
Account deletion requests may require verification of account ownership. After verification, we will delete or anonymize personal information associated with the account where possible.
Some records may be retained where required or permitted by law, including records needed for tax, accounting, payment disputes, fraud prevention, customer support, legal compliance, food safety, and order history obligations.
At this time, we provide an account deletion request process. We do not currently provide a separate self-serve option for customers to delete only some categories of data while keeping the account active.
15. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on applicable law, customers may request to access, correct, update, or delete certain personal information. Customers may also withdraw consent for certain non-essential uses of information, where applicable.
To make a privacy request, contact us at:
info@thehometaste.ca
We may need to verify your identity before completing a privacy request. Some information may not be deleted if we are required or permitted to retain it for legal, accounting, safety, fraud prevention, support, or dispute-resolution purposes.
16. Children and Minors
The HomeTaste Customer app is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children or minors.
If we learn that a minor has created an account or provided personal information, we may close the account and delete or limit the information as appropriate, subject to legal and safety requirements.
17. Privacy Breaches
If a privacy breach creates a real risk of significant harm, we will notify affected individuals and report to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada as soon as feasible, as required by applicable privacy law.
18. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our app, services, legal requirements, or business operations.
If we make material changes, we may notify customers through the app, by email, or by updating the effective date on this page.
19. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how The HomeTaste handles customer information, please contact us:
The HomeTaste Foodtech Inc.
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Privacy email: info@thehometaste.ca
General support: contact@thehometaste.ca
This Privacy Policy applies to the The HomeTaste Customer app and related customer services. Separate policies or additional notices may apply to cooks, kitchen partners, drivers, delivery partners, and business partners.