PRIVACY POLICY

Privacy Policy for Grocer Intel

Last Updated: August 2026

Grocery Intel (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “Company”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process personal information in connection with our website (grocerintel.com), newsletters, and services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly:

• Newsletter Subscription: Name, email address, company name, job title, industry segment
• Contact Forms: Name, email, company, message content
• Sponsorship Inquiries: Company name, contact name, email, phone number, advertising interests
• Account Information: If you create an account, login credentials and profile information

Information Collected Automatically:

• Website Analytics: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on site, referring URL (via Google Analytics)
• Cookies: Session cookies to improve user experience
• Email Engagement: Open rates, click-through rates, unsubscribe data (collected via Beehiiv email platform)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for:

• Delivering and managing newsletter subscriptions
• Responding to inquiries and support requests
• Sending promotional content and sponsorship opportunities
• Analyzing website performance and user behavior
• Complying with legal obligations
• Improving our services and content

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

3. Data Retention

• Newsletter subscribers: Data retained for the duration of subscription + 12 months after unsubscribe
• Contact form submissions: Retained for 24 months
• Website analytics: Retained for 26 months (Google Analytics default)
• Unsubscribed users: Email address retained on suppression list to honor unsubscribe requests

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party platforms to deliver our services:

Beehiiv (Email Platform)

• Stores subscriber data, manages newsletter delivery
• Privacy Policy: https://www.beehiiv.com/privacy

Google Analytics

• Website traffic and user behavior analysis
• Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

WordPress.com (Website Hosting)

• Hosts our website content
• Privacy Policy: https://wordpress.com/en/privacy/

Contact Form Plugin (WPForms/Contact Form 7)

• Processes form submissions
• Data retained on our WordPress servers

Your data may be transferred to these service providers’ servers, which may be located outside South Africa or your country of residence. By using our services, you consent to this transfer.

5. Data Protection & Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• HTTPS encryption for all website traffic
• Secure password storage
• Regular security updates
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data

However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

6. Your Rights (POPIA Compliance)

Under South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your data (right to be forgotten)
• Withdrawal of Consent: Unsubscribe from communications
• Object to Processing: Request we stop processing your data for certain purposes

To exercise these rights, contact: Desk@GrocerIntel.com

7. Unsubscribe

You can unsubscribe from Grocery Intel newsletters at any time by:

• Clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email
• Emailing: Desk@GrocerIntel.com
• Using the subscription management link in your Beehiiv account

Unsubscribed users will be added to our suppression list and will not receive further marketing emails, though we may contact you regarding transactional matters or legal compliance.

8. Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses cookies to:

• Maintain session information
• Remember user preferences
• Track website analytics

Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. However, blocking cookies may impair website functionality.

Cookie Types:

• Session Cookies: Automatically deleted when you close your browser
• Analytics Cookies: Used by Google Analytics (retained 26 months)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your site preferences

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., industry reports, partner sites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

10. Children’s Privacy

Grocery Intel is not directed at individuals under 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware of data from a minor, we will delete it immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data:

Email: Desk@GrocerIntel.com
Response Time: 2-3 business days

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