1. Introduction
Welcome to ClearanceFood.com ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We collect information that you provide directly to us, including:
- Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
- Account credentials (username, password)
- Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)
- Profile information and preferences
- Communication records (support tickets, messages)
- Stock / supplier offers: company name, stock details, barcodes, best-before or use-by dates, location, photos of stock, and your preferences for anonymity, audience (trade vs public marketplaces), and how you want us to sell
- Buyer interest / deal alerts: name, email, phone/WhatsApp number, buyer type, categories of interest, and region when you join our buy-stock or WhatsApp deal alerts
2.2 Usage Information
We automatically collect information about how you interact with our platform:
- Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
- Usage data (pages visited, time spent, actions taken)
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide, maintain, and improve our services
- Process transactions and manage your account
- Respond to stock offers, partner enquiries, and buyer interest forms
- Route stock to auctions, trade networks, or consumer marketplaces according to your stated preference
- Send you important updates and notifications
- Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security issues
- Comply with legal obligations
- Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
3A. Marketing, WhatsApp and social advertising (PECR)
Where UK PECR rules apply, we only send electronic marketing (email or WhatsApp deal alerts) when you have given clear opt-in consent, or where another lawful basis applies. You can withdraw consent at any time by using an available unsubscribe link or contacting us; we record the suppression so marketing contact stops.
- WhatsApp: if you tick WhatsApp opt-in on a form, we may message you about stock offers, deal alerts, or buyer community updates. Messages are sent by ClearanceFood / Sun Exotic Wholesale Ltd.
- Email marketing: optional tips and buyer-demand updates are separate from transactional emails about your offer or order.
- Social advertising of products: if you consent, we may advertise the products (photos and descriptions) on LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and similar platforms. Your company name stays private unless you agree otherwise.
3B. Suppliers who offer us stock
When you offer stock through our forms we act as your agent to find a buyer. The service is that we write your stock up as an anonymous lot and show it to verified UK trade buyers who log in to clearancefood.com so they can bid. This is processing necessary for the contract you ask us to perform (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(b)). What buyers see and do not see:
- Shown to logged-in verified buyers: your photos, the product description, quantity, storage type, best-before dates, a broad region, any conditions you set, and the leading bid. Bidders never see each other's identity, and none of them sees yours.
- Never shown to the market: your name, company, contact details, postcode, invoices, the barcode you enter and your asking price. Photos are shown as you upload them (we strip location data), so crop out labels, delivery notes or anything else that names you before sending.
- Shared with one buyer only: once you accept an offer, we introduce you to that buyer so collection, invoicing and payment can happen directly.
- Optional public use: a public lot page, link previews, social posts and a short anonymous sold-lot record are covered by a separate content licence on the form. Those boxes are pre-ticked because they concern business content, not marketing to you; untick any of them and we will not do it. WhatsApp and marketing-email boxes are never pre-ticked.
You can withdraw the lot before it is awarded, withdraw the content licence, or stop WhatsApp and email updates at any time: reply to any lot email, use the matching subject on our contact page (“Withdraw my stock offer / lot”, “Stop WhatsApp / email updates”, “Remove my photos or content”), or reply STOP to a WhatsApp message. We keep the record of what you agreed to, and when, for as long as the lot record is kept.
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers who assist in operating our platform
- Fulfilment / marketplace partners: where you ask us to sell via managed marketplaces or dropship, we may share necessary stock and logistics details with our fulfilment partner so they can list and ship — not your identity to end buyers unless you agree
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights and safety
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
- With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share your information
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.
6. Your Rights
Under applicable data protection laws, you have the right to:
- Access your personal information
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Object to processing of your personal information
- Request restriction of processing
- Data portability
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
7. Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.
8. Children's Privacy
Our platform is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.