Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Garuda Foods Inc ("we", "our", "us") operates the website garudafoodsinc.ca (the "Website"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our Website or contact us.

By using our Website, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our Website.

Our Website is a product showcase and corporate information platform. We do not conduct online sales or process payment information through this Website.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Submit our contact form (name, email address, phone number, message)
• Submit our distribution/partnership inquiry form (name, company name, phone, email, business type, location, message)
• Send us an email or call us directly

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Website, certain information is collected automatically, including:

• Log data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, time and date of visits
• Device information: Device type, screen resolution, language settings
• Usage data: Pages viewed, links clicked, time spent on pages

2.3 Information We Do Not Collect

We do not collect:

• Payment card or banking information (no e-commerce on this site)
• Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) or government ID numbers
• Sensitive personal information such as health data, religious beliefs, or ethnic origin
• Information from children under 13 years of age (see Section 12)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to inquiries: Replying to your contact form submissions, questions, and distribution partnership requests
• To improve our Website: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience, content, and functionality
• To communicate business information: Sending relevant information about our products and distribution opportunities (only when you have requested this)
• To comply with legal obligations: Meeting requirements under applicable Canadian laws and regulations
• To protect our legal rights: Detecting and preventing fraudulent activity or unauthorized use of our Website

We will not use your personal information for purposes other than those identified above without your prior consent, unless required by law.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

4.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences and understand how you use the site.

4.2 Types of Cookies We May Use

4.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our Website. Refer to your browser's help documentation for instructions on managing cookies.

5. Analytics

We may use third-party analytics tools such as Google Analytics to collect and analyze information about Website usage. These tools use cookies and similar technologies to collect data such as the number of visitors, pages viewed, and traffic sources.

The information collected by analytics tools is aggregated and anonymized where possible. Google Analytics data is processed in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

6. Contact Forms

When you submit a contact or distribution inquiry form on our Website, the information you provide (including name, email address, phone number, company name, and message) is transmitted to us via email or stored securely for follow-up purposes.

We use this information solely to respond to your inquiry and, where applicable, to evaluate distribution partnership opportunities. We do not add you to marketing lists without your explicit consent.

Form submissions are retained for a reasonable period to allow us to address your inquiry and for legitimate business purposes, after which they are securely deleted (see Section 10 – Data Retention).

7. Third-Party Services

Our Website may use or link to third-party services, including:

• Google Maps: For displaying our business location. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Google Fonts: For typography rendering. May collect limited data per Google's policies.
• Google Analytics: For Website usage analysis. See Section 5.
• Social Media Platforms: Links to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Clicking these links will take you to third-party sites with their own privacy policies.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before interacting with them.

8. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: Trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our Website or conducting our business, subject to confidentiality agreements
• Legal requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority under Canadian law
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, with appropriate safeguards
• Protection of rights: When necessary to protect our legal rights, prevent fraud, or ensure the safety of our users

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure HTTPS encryption for data transmitted through our Website
• Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular review of our information collection, storage, and processing practices

While we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, no method of Internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted through the Internet.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Our general retention guidelines are:

• Contact form inquiries: Retained for up to 2 years from the date of inquiry, then securely deleted
• Distribution partnership inquiries: Retained for the duration of any active business relationship plus 3 years
• Website analytics data: Retained in accordance with the analytics provider's policies (typically up to 26 months for Google Analytics)
• Server log files: Typically retained for 90 days unless required for security or legal purposes

When personal information is no longer required, we securely destroy or anonymize it.

11. Your Privacy Rights

Under PIPEDA and applicable Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent to our use of your personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions
• Right to Complaint: You have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) if you believe we have not handled your personal information appropriately

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 14. We will respond to your request within 30 days as required by PIPEDA.

12. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete such information.

13. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our Website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer:

We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns you may have in a timely and fair manner.