Privacy Policy

Who we are

Fine Local Honey operates an online marketplace connecting customers with local honey producers across the UK. Our registered address is available upon request via hello@finelocalhoney.co.uk.

What personal data we collect

We collect personal data necessary to operate our marketplace:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password
• Producer Profiles: Business name, contact details, postcode (displayed as approximate location), pickup address (shared only after order placement)
• Order Processing: Delivery address, payment information (processed securely via Stripe)
• Communications: Messages between customers and producers
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, usage analytics (anonymised)

How we use your data

• Process and fulfil orders
• Enable communication between customers and producers
• Send order confirmations and delivery updates
• Improve our platform and user experience
• Comply with legal obligations

Data sharing

We share your data only when necessary:

• With Producers: Customer contact details for order fulfilment
• Payment Processing: Stripe processes payments securely
• Email Services: Postmark delivers transactional emails
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect rights

We never sell your personal data to third parties or use it for marketing purposes without explicit consent.

Location privacy for producers

To protect producer privacy, we convert postcodes to approximate map locations (typically within 1–2km of the actual address). This allows customers to find local producers without revealing exact home or apiary locations. Precise pickup addresses are only shared with customers after an order is placed.

Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): Ask us to delete your personal data in certain situations. We will delete your account and personal data unless we must keep some information to comply with the law (for example, tax/accounting rules), prevent fraud, or establish/defend legal claims. Where we need to keep limited data, we minimise it and restrict access. Deletions apply to active systems immediately and flow to backups on their normal rotation.
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@finelocalhoney.co.uk. We aim to respond within one month (we may extend by up to two further months for complex requests and will tell you why).

How to request deletion

Email hello@finelocalhoney.co.uk with:

• The email address used for your account
• Proof of identity so we can protect your account

We will delete your account, profile, images, and other personal data we control. For producers, we also remove marketplace listings and profile content. We may keep order/transaction records as the law requires (for example, tax and accounting). Where we keep such records, we minimise the data and restrict access.

Data security & retention

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including encryption and secure hosting via Supabase.

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined above, typically:

• Account data: Until account deletion
• Order records: 7 years for tax/accounting purposes
• Analytics data: 26 months (anonymised)

Cookies & analytics

We use essential cookies for site functionality and anonymised analytics to improve user experience. No tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies are used.

Children's privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via email or prominent notice on our website.

Contact & complaints

For privacy-related questions or complaints, contact us at hello@finelocalhoney.co.uk.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.