1. Introduction

FoodExpoConnect ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our B2B food trade intelligence platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

Account Information: Email address, name
Payment Information: Processed securely through Stripe (we do not store credit card numbers)
AI Conversations: Messages sent to our AI assistant for trade show exhibitor research and email enrichment
Usage Data: Exhibitor searches, export history, conversation credits used

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent
Device Information: Browser type, IP address, device ID
Cookies: Session cookies for authentication and preferences

3. How We Use Your Information

Provide and improve our services
Process payments and transactions
Send service updates and marketing communications (opt-out available)
Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience
Prevent fraud and ensure platform security
Comply with legal obligations

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data with:

Service Providers: Stripe (payments), Supabase (database), OpenAI (AI services), Resend (email delivery)
Legal Authorities: If required by law or to protect our rights

5. Exhibitor Data & AI Research

Our platform provides AI-powered research on publicly available exhibitor information from trade shows. We:

Only analyze data from public exhibitor directories and company websites
Use AI to enrich and verify company contact information
Track conversation usage and export history per tier limits
Honor deletion requests from exhibitors (GDPR compliance)
Respect robots.txt and website terms of service during data collection

6. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

You have the right to:

Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Rectification: Correct inaccurate data
Deletion: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails anytime
Object: Object to processing for direct marketing

To exercise these rights, contact us at legal@foodexpoconnect.com.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit
Database encryption at rest (Supabase)
JWT-based authentication
Row-level security policies (RLS)
Regular security audits
Limited employee access to personal data

8. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion, data is retained for 30 days (recovery period) then permanently deleted, except where required by law.

9. Cookies Policy

We use cookies for:

Essential: Supabase authentication, session management, security
Preferences: Language selection, dark mode settings
Analytics: Usage insights to improve platform performance (anonymized)

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

10. International Data Transfers

Our services are hosted in the EU/US. If you access from outside these regions, your data may be transferred internationally. We ensure adequate safeguards are in place (Standard Contractual Clauses).

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, contact us immediately.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Material changes will be notified via email.

13. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights:

Email: legal@foodexpoconnect.com
General Inquiries: hello@foodexpoconnect.com