HL Catering Privacy Policy

HL Catering Company — Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how HL Catering Company ("HL Catering," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects information we receive through our website, hlcatering.com (the "Site"), and in connection with the catering inquiries, online orders, and communications you send us. By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in three ways: information you give us directly, information collected automatically when you visit the Site, and information we receive from the third-party services we use to run our business.

Information you provide to us:

• Inquiry / contact form: name, email address, phone number, and details about your event (date, guest count, venue, and similar planning details) when you request a quote or reach out through the Site.

• Newsletter signup: your email address, and optionally your name, when you subscribe to updates. We use Mailchimp to manage and send these emails.

• Online ordering: your name, contact information, event and order details, and payment information when you place an order or book services through our online ordering system, powered by HoneyBook. Payment card details are collected and processed directly by HoneyBook and its payment processor — we do not store your full card number on our own systems.

• Direct communications: anything you share with us by phone, email, or in person while planning an event.

Information collected automatically:

When you visit the Site, we and our service providers automatically collect certain technical information using cookies and similar tracking technologies, including Google Analytics and the Meta (Facebook) Pixel. This may include your IP address, browser and device type, pages viewed, referring website, approximate location, and how you interact with the Site. We use this information to understand how visitors use the Site and to measure the performance of our advertising, including ads run on Facebook and Instagram.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to inquiries and prepare quotes, menus, and proposals for your event

• Process and fulfill online orders and bookings, including payment

• Send requested updates, confirmations, and service-related communications

• Send marketing emails and newsletters to subscribers, with your ability to opt out at any time

• Improve our Site, offerings, and marketing based on how visitors use the Site

• Maintain business records and comply with legal, tax, and accounting obligations

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as needed to run our business:

• Service providers: Mailchimp (email newsletters), HoneyBook and its payment processor (online ordering, booking, and payment), Google Analytics (site analytics), and Meta/Facebook (advertising and the Meta Pixel). Each of these providers processes information on our behalf and maintains its own privacy and security practices.

• Legal requirements: if required to comply with a law, subpoena, or legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of HL Catering, our clients, or others.

• Business transfers: if HL Catering is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies (including those associated with Google Analytics and the Meta Pixel) to recognize your browser, remember preferences, understand Site traffic, and measure advertising performance. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings; doing so may affect how parts of the Site function. You may also opt out of Google Analytics tracking using Google's browser add-on, and manage ad personalization through your Facebook/Meta account settings.

5. Email Communications

If you subscribe to our newsletter or provide your email when submitting an inquiry or order, we may send you marketing and promotional emails through Mailchimp. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time by clicking that link or contacting us directly using the information below. We will still send you service-related messages (such as order or booking confirmations) even if you opt out of marketing emails, as these are necessary to fulfill your request.

6. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect the information we collect, and we rely on reputable third-party providers (Mailchimp, HoneyBook, Google, Meta) that maintain their own security measures for the data they process. Payment card information is handled by HoneyBook's payment processing systems, not stored directly by HL Catering. That said, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain inquiry, order, and client information for as long as needed to fulfill your event, maintain business and tax records, and comply with legal obligations. Newsletter subscriber information is retained until you unsubscribe or request removal.

8. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to know what personal information we hold about you, request a copy of it, ask us to correct or delete it, or opt out of certain uses. This includes rights available to California residents under California's online privacy laws. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below and we will respond within a reasonable time. You can also unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in those emails.

9. Children's Privacy

The Site is intended for adults planning catering services and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

10. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, such as our online ordering platform or social media pages. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies separately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, or if you'd like to make a request regarding your personal information, please contact us:

HL Catering Company 1632 N Market Dr, Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: 919.605.0065