1. Introduction
HerKitchen is operated by Kairoo Technologies Pvt Ltd ("HerKitchen", "we", "us", "our"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use the HerKitchen website, and our mobile applications on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store (together, the "Services").
By creating an account, browsing home cooks, placing an order, or otherwise using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
2. Information we collect
2.1 Information you provide directly
- Account details: name, phone number, email address, and password (or OTP login) when you sign up.
- Delivery address: street address, locality, city, and pincode so your cook and delivery partner can reach you.
- Profile information: dietary preference, allergens, spice level, and optional profile photo, used to personalise meal and AI recommendations.
- Cook/kitchen details: if you sign up as a home cook, we collect your FSSAI registration number, kitchen address, bank/payout details, government ID for verification, and photos of your kitchen and dishes.
- Payment information: processed securely by our third-party payment gateway. HerKitchen does not store your full card, UPI, or bank account numbers on our servers.
- Communications: messages you send to customer support, reviews, ratings, and survey responses.
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Device information: device model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, app version, and crash/diagnostic logs.
- Usage data: pages and screens viewed, cooks and dishes browsed, search queries, subscription and order history, and interaction with push notifications.
- Location data: as described in Section 4.
- Log and network data: IP address, approximate network-based location, browser type, and referral source on the website.
3. How we use your information
- Create and manage your account, and authenticate you via OTP or password.
- Match you with nearby verified home cooks and calculate delivery feasibility.
- Process subscriptions, orders, payments, refunds, and wallet credits.
- Personalise AI meal recommendations based on diet, allergens, and order history.
- Send transactional communications: order confirmations, delivery updates, OTPs, and payment receipts.
- Send optional marketing communications about plans, offers, and new cooks (you can opt out at any time).
- Verify home cooks' FSSAI registration and conduct kitchen safety checks.
- Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
- Analyse app performance, fix bugs, and improve features.
- Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations applicable to food-delivery platforms in India.
4. Location data
HerKitchen uses your location to show home cooks near you, estimate delivery times, and route orders to our delivery partners.
- While using the app: we access your device's precise or approximate location (GPS, Wi-Fi, or network-based) only while the app is open or actively being used for an order.
- Manual address entry: you may instead type in your delivery address without granting location permission; some features like "cooks near me" will be limited in this case.
- You can disable location access at any time from your device settings — on iOS via Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → HerKitchen, and on Android via Settings → Apps → HerKitchen → Permissions → Location.
5. App permissions (iOS & Android)
Our iOS and Android apps request the following device permissions. Each is optional unless noted, and can be managed from your device settings at any time.
| Permission | Why we ask for it |
|---|---|
| Location | Find home cooks near you and estimate delivery times |
| Camera | Take a profile photo, or (for cooks) photograph dishes and kitchen for verification |
| Photo library | Upload an existing photo as your profile or dish image |
| Push notifications | Order status, delivery updates, offers, and AI meal-plan suggestions |
| Microphone | Only if you use voice search for dishes or cooks (optional feature) |
We do not access your contacts, call logs, or SMS messages. OTP autofill, where used, relies on the operating system's own SMS Retriever / Autofill APIs, which do not grant HerKitchen general access to your messages.
8. Data security
We use industry-standard safeguards — including encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS), access controls, and secure cloud infrastructure — to protect your information. Payment details are handled by PCI-DSS compliant payment gateways. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we encourage you to use a strong, unique password and keep your device secure.
9. Data retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Services, comply with legal and tax obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When you delete your account, we delete or anonymise your personal information, except where retention is required by law (for example, financial transaction records).
10. Your rights & choices
- Access & correction: view and update your profile information in the app at any time.
- Deletion: request deletion of your account and personal data via the app (Profile → Settings → Delete Account) or by emailing us.
- Marketing opt-out: unsubscribe from promotional emails/notifications, or disable push notifications in your device settings.
- Data portability: request a copy of your personal data in a machine-readable format.
These rights are available to all users, and in particular to residents of India under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and to users in the European Economic Area/UK under the GDPR, where applicable. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email below.
11. Children's privacy
HerKitchen is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child without parental consent, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.
12. International users & data transfers
HerKitchen currently operates in Pune, Mumbai, and Bangalore, India, and our servers and service providers may be located in India or other countries. By using the Services, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in these locations, which may have data protection laws different from those of your home jurisdiction.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will update the "Effective date" above and, for material changes, notify you via the app or email. Continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
14. Contact us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at:
Kairoo Technologies Pvt Ltd
Email: hello@kairootechnologies.com