Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Mountain Relish, trading as Relish Chefs, respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and share personal information when you visit www.relishchefs.com, create an account, register as a chef, submit an enquiry or use our services.

Relish Chefs is an online platform that connects clients with private chefs and catering professionals. We introduce clients and chefs, but bookings, service arrangements and payments are handled directly between them.

For the purposes of applicable data protection legislation, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the data controller is:

Mountain Relish, trading as Relish Chefs

6 Rue Basse, 34360 Berlou, France

Email: info@relishchefs.com

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information.

Information about clients

• Name and email address when you register.
• Address and profile photograph, if you choose to provide them.
• Enquiry details, including location, event type, group size, budget, dates, preferences and other requirements.
• Messages exchanged through the Relish Chefs platform.
• Reviews and feedback submitted through the website.
• Information you provide when contacting us for support.

Information about chefs

• Name, contact details and account information.
• Profile information, biography, experience, services, menus, photographs, locations, prices and availability.
• Messages and enquiries handled through the platform.
• Reviews and other information associated with your profile.
• Information you provide when contacting us.

Technical information

When you use the website, certain technical information may be collected, such as your IP address, browser type, device information, usage data and information collected through cookies or similar technologies, depending on the website's configuration and your cookie preferences.

We ask users to provide information relevant to their use of the platform. Please avoid including unnecessary sensitive personal information in profile descriptions or messages.

3. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• To create and manage client and chef accounts.
• To publish and maintain chef profiles.
• To help clients discover suitable chefs.
• To receive, assess and manage Find a Chef enquiries.
• To match enquiries with chefs according to relevant criteria, including location, services, availability and budget.
• To facilitate introductions and provide the platform's messaging functionality between clients and chefs.
• To display reviews submitted through the website.
• To respond to questions, feedback and complaints.
• To maintain, protect and improve the platform.
• To comply with legal obligations and protect our legitimate business interests.

We only use personal data where we have an appropriate legal basis for doing so.

4. Sharing Your Personal Data

Relish Chefs does not sell your personal data to third parties.

We may share relevant information in the following circumstances.

Client enquiries and introductions

There are two ways a Find a Chef enquiry may be handled:

• Personal introduction: We review the enquiry and may select a suitable chef. We ask the client for permission before sharing their contact details with that chef.
• System matching: Relevant enquiry information is made available to chefs whose locations, services, availability and pricing appear to match the requirements. The first three chefs to contact the client are considered for the enquiry.

For system-matched enquiries, chefs can access relevant enquiry information so they can decide whether to respond and provide a suitable service. Client email addresses are not visible to chefs, and communication takes place through the Relish Chefs messaging system.

Private messages exchanged between clients and chefs through the platform are not routinely accessed or monitored by Relish Chefs. We may access relevant information where necessary for technical support, security, investigating reported concerns or complying with legal obligations, where permitted by applicable law.

Clients should only include information in their enquiries that is relevant to finding a chef.

Service providers

We may share information with service providers who help operate the website, host data, provide technical support, maintain security or deliver other essential platform functions. Such providers should only process personal data as necessary for their services and in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

Legal requirements

We may disclose information where required by law, by a competent authority or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

We do not otherwise share personal information with unrelated third parties unless we have an appropriate legal basis or your permission where required.

5. Payments

Relish Chefs currently introduces clients to chefs but does not process payments, hold client funds or manage financial transactions between clients and chefs.

Clients and chefs agree the price, payment method, currency, payment schedule and other financial arrangements directly.

Relish Chefs does not collect or store clients' payment card details for bookings made through the platform. If you provide financial information to a chef directly, the chef is responsible for handling that information in accordance with applicable law.

6. Marketing Communications

We may send service-related communications necessary to operate your account or respond to your enquiries.

We will only send marketing communications where we have an appropriate legal basis and any required consent. Where you receive marketing emails, you can opt out using the unsubscribe facility provided or by contacting us.

Opting out of marketing will not prevent us from sending essential communications relating to your account or use of the platform.

7. Legal Bases for Processing

Under the GDPR, we rely on one or more of the following legal bases, depending on the circumstances:

• Contract: processing necessary to provide account and platform services you request.
• Legitimate interests: operating, maintaining, securing and improving the platform; managing enquiries; preventing misuse; and supporting the introduction of clients and chefs, where these interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Consent: where you have given consent for a specific purpose, such as certain optional cookies or marketing communications where consent is required.
• Legal obligation: processing necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before it was withdrawn.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including account management, enquiries, platform administration, legal compliance and the resolution of disputes.

Retention periods vary according to the type of information and the reason it was collected. Where information is no longer required, we will delete it or anonymise it where appropriate, unless we are legally required to retain it.

Incomplete chef profiles may be deleted after 14 days. This does not mean that all client accounts or completed profiles are automatically deleted after that period.

If you request account deletion, we will handle the request in accordance with applicable data protection law and any legal obligations to retain certain information.

9. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

No website or method of electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users should keep their account credentials confidential and contact us if they suspect unauthorised access to their account.

10. International Data Transfers

Relish Chefs is intended to connect clients and chefs in different locations, including outside France.

Depending on the location of our service providers and the people using the platform, personal data may be processed or transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

Where a transfer is subject to GDPR requirements, we will take the steps required by applicable law, which may include relying on an adequacy decision or implementing appropriate safeguards.

You can contact us for further information about relevant safeguards where applicable.

11. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the applicable law and circumstances, you may have the right to:

• Request access to your personal data.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your personal data.
• Request restriction of processing.
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Request data portability where applicable.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• Lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority.

To exercise your rights, contact info@relishchefs.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

We will respond within the time limits required by applicable law. Some rights are subject to exceptions, including where we must retain information to comply with legal obligations.

12. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling

Relish Chefs may use information such as location, services, availability and budget to identify chefs who may be suitable for a client's enquiry.

This matching process helps organise enquiries and connect clients with relevant chefs. It does not constitute a guarantee that a chef will be available, suitable or selected for a booking.

We do not intend to make decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal effects or similarly significant effects on individuals. If this changes, we will update this policy and provide any information required by applicable law.

13. Third-Party Websites and Services

The website may contain links to third-party websites or services, including chef websites and social media profiles.

Those websites operate under their own privacy policies and terms. Relish Chefs is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party services.

We recommend reviewing the relevant privacy policy before providing personal information directly to another website or service.

14. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The website may use cookies and similar technologies to support essential website functions, maintain sessions, remember preferences, improve performance or measure website usage.

Where required by law, non-essential cookies or similar technologies will only be used after the appropriate consent has been obtained. You can manage available cookie preferences through the website's cookie controls, where provided, and through your browser settings.

Disabling certain cookies may affect how parts of the website function.

15. Children's Privacy

Relish Chefs is not intended to be an account service for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data directly from children under 18 for the purpose of creating accounts.

Clients may make enquiries for events involving children. In these circumstances, the account holder should provide only information about children that is necessary for the enquiry and should avoid including unnecessary identifying details.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact us so we can assess the situation.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the platform, our data practices or legal requirements.

The latest version will be published on www.relishchefs.com, with the updated date shown at the beginning of the policy. We encourage users to review it periodically.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, how your personal data is handled or wish to exercise your data protection rights, contact:

Mountain Relish, trading as Relish Chefs

6 Rue Basse, 34360 Berlou, France

Email: info@relishchefs.com

18. Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you are concerned about how your personal data is being processed, please contact us first so we can try to address your concerns.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection supervisory authority.

In France, the supervisory authority is the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL). Information about making a complaint is available at https://www.cnil.fr/.

If you are located in another country within the EEA or elsewhere, you may also be entitled to contact the relevant supervisory authority in your country of residence or work, or where the alleged infringement occurred.