Privacy policy

Effective Date: 4 September 2026

At The Cacao Pods, we value your trust as much as we value the quality of our products. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect and share personal information when you visit our website thecacaopods.com, create an account, place an order, contact us or otherwise interact with our services.

The Cacao Pods operates through VNS AGRO FRESH, as identified in our Terms of Service. References to "The Cacao Pods", "we", "us" or "our" in this Privacy Policy refer to the relevant business operating the website and services.

1. About The Cacao Pods

The Cacao Pods is a luxury chocolate and gifting brand founded by Archita Agarwal. The business offers handcrafted chocolates, cakes, gifting solutions, dessert catering and curated chocolate tasting experiences.

Our website allows customers to browse products, create an account, place orders, track orders and contact us regarding purchases, gifting requirements, collaborations and special requests.

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with our website and services, we may collect:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Billing address

  • Shipping address

  • Order information and order history

  • Account information

  • Information contained in messages or enquiries

  • Information provided for special requests or gifting requirements

  • Technical and browsing information, such as IP address, device information, cookies and interactions with the website

We collect information that is reasonably required to provide our products, process orders, communicate with customers and operate and improve the website.

3. Information Provided Through Forms

Our Gifting Concierge page provides an enquiry form requesting:

  • Your name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Message

The message field may allow you to provide additional information about your occasion, gifting requirements, collaboration or other request.

Please provide only information that is relevant to your enquiry and avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive or confidential information through website forms.

4. Information Provided During Purchases

When you place an order, information required to complete the transaction and deliver the product may include:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Billing address

  • Shipping address

  • Order details

  • Delivery information

  • Account information, where an account is used

Our website also provides order tracking through the customer's account and delivery communications.

The website's existing Privacy Policy states that The Cacao Pods does not store customers' credit or debit card details and that payment transactions are processed through third-party payment gateways.

5. Information Users May Voluntarily Provide

You may voluntarily provide additional information when communicating with us, including through:

  • Contact forms

  • Email

  • Special delivery requests

  • Gift-wrapping or gift-note requests

  • Gifting consultations

  • Customisation discussions

  • Tasting or event enquiries

  • Customer support communications

This may include information about an occasion, preferred delivery date, gifting requirements, custom packaging, messages, flavours or other preferences.

The website specifically allows customers to leave comments at checkout or contact the team for delivery-date and gift-wrapping requests.

6. Automatically Collected Information

When you browse or interact with the website, certain technical information may be collected.

The existing Privacy Policy identifies:

  • IP address

  • Device information

  • Cookies

  • Website interactions

  • Browsing activity

This information may be used to understand how visitors use the website and to improve the browsing and shopping experience.

The website does not publicly identify a specific analytics provider in its Privacy Policy. Any specific analytics or tracking provider should therefore be confirmed through a technical website review before being named in this policy.

7. How We Use Your Information

We may use personal information to:

  • Process and fulfil orders

  • Arrange delivery

  • Send order and shipping updates

  • Provide customer support

  • Respond to enquiries

  • Respond to gifting and collaboration requests

  • Manage customer accounts

  • Maintain order history

  • Handle special requests

  • Provide relevant product or gifting recommendations

  • Improve our website, products and customer experience

  • Understand website usage and interactions

  • Send promotional updates or offers where you have opted in

  • Address complaints or service issues

  • Comply with applicable legal requirements

We aim to use personal information only for legitimate and relevant business purposes.

8. Legal Basis for Processing

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, personal information may be processed where:

  • It is necessary to fulfil an order or provide a requested service

  • You have provided consent

  • It is necessary to respond to an enquiry or request

  • It is necessary to comply with a legal obligation

  • It is reasonably necessary for legitimate business operations, where permitted by applicable law

For individuals whose information is subject to additional privacy laws, other rights or legal requirements may apply.

For users in India, our privacy practices are intended to operate in accordance with applicable Indian data-protection requirements, including the Digital Personal Data Protection framework where applicable.

9. How We Share Information

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information for third-party marketing purposes.

Where necessary to provide our products and operate our services, information may be shared with:

Logistics and courier partners

Relevant information may be provided to delivery partners to enable order fulfilment, shipment and delivery.

Payment service providers

Payment-related information may be processed by third-party payment gateways to complete transactions.

The existing Privacy Policy states that The Cacao Pods does not store customers' credit or debit card details.

Service providers

Where necessary, third-party providers may process information to support website or business operations.

The specific providers currently used by the website should be confirmed before they are individually named in this policy.

Legal and regulatory authorities

Information may be disclosed where required by applicable law, legal process or a valid request from an authorized authority.

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Cacao Pods uses cookies and similar technologies as described in its existing Privacy Policy.

Cookies may be used to:

  • Remember preferences

  • Support website functionality

  • Understand how visitors navigate the website

  • Improve the shopping experience

  • Maintain relevant website functionality

You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect some website features.

The website's current Privacy Policy does not provide a detailed cookie list. The actual cookies, providers, purposes and retention periods should therefore be verified through a technical cookie scan before publication of a final version.

11. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may interact with or link to third-party services.

The Terms of Service expressly acknowledge third-party tools and external links. The website also operates with third-party payment and logistics providers.

The website uses Shopify functionality for customer accounts and the ecommerce platform.

When you interact directly with a third-party website or service, that provider's own privacy policy and terms may apply.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites that we do not control.

12. Information Related to Gifting and Events

The Cacao Pods provides personalised gifting, wedding gifting, birth announcements, corporate gifting, dessert catering and tasting experiences.

When you request a customised service, you may voluntarily provide information about:

  • The occasion

  • Quantity or gifting requirements

  • Budget

  • Preferred flavours

  • Packaging requirements

  • Names, messages or branding

  • Event or delivery requirements

  • Preferred delivery date

This information may be used to prepare, customise and fulfil the requested service.

Information provided during a customer or event service journey may be different from the information collected through the standard website contact form.

13. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, misuse, loss or disclosure.

The existing Privacy Policy refers to security measures including SSL encryption, secure servers and the use of trusted payment gateways.

However, no online transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted over the internet.

14. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including:

  • Processing and fulfilling orders

  • Providing customer support

  • Maintaining customer and transaction records

  • Handling returns, refunds or complaints

  • Meeting applicable legal, accounting or regulatory requirements

  • Managing ongoing customer relationships

The website does not specify fixed retention periods in its current Privacy Policy.

Actual retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the purpose for which it was collected and applicable legal requirements.

15. User Privacy Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have rights relating to your personal information, including the ability to:

  • Request access to personal information held about you

  • Request correction or updating of inaccurate information

  • Request deletion where legally applicable

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

  • Opt out of marketing communications

  • Raise a privacy-related concern or complaint

Some requests may be subject to applicable legal, contractual or operational requirements.

To exercise a privacy right, contact us using the details in the Contact Us section.

16. Withdrawal of Consent

Where we process your information based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent by contacting us.

For marketing communications, you may opt out using the available unsubscribe mechanism or by contacting us.

Withdrawal of consent will not affect processing that we are permitted or required to continue under another applicable basis.

17. Children's Privacy

The website's Terms of Service state that users must be of legal age in their region to use the services or use the platform under the supervision of a guardian.

The website is primarily intended for customers purchasing products and services and is not specifically directed toward children.

If you believe that personal information has been submitted by a child inappropriately, please contact us so that the matter can be reviewed.

18. International Data Transfers

The website currently focuses on deliveries and services within India, including delivery across serviceable locations in India.

The website does not provide sufficient public information to establish specific international data transfers, countries of processing or transfer mechanisms.

If third-party service providers process personal information outside India, the relevant processing and safeguards should be reviewed and reflected in this Privacy Policy where required.

19. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

  • Changes to our products or services

  • Changes to website functionality

  • Changes to third-party service providers

  • Changes in our data practices

  • Changes in applicable privacy or data-protection requirements

Any updated version will be published on this page with a revised effective date.

20. Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests or concerns, please contact:

The Cacao Pods. For order, shipping or delivery-related support, the website also provides:
Email: info@thecacaopods.com

The website's shipping policy identifies this address for shipping and delivery enquiries.

For privacy-specific requests, please use the subject line "Privacy Request" so that your enquiry can be appropriately identified.

21. Privacy Complaints and Grievances

If you have a concern regarding the collection, use or handling of your personal information, please contact us using the details above.

Please provide sufficient information for us to understand the nature of your concern and, where relevant, identify the information or interaction involved.

We will review privacy-related complaints and respond in accordance with applicable requirements and our internal procedures.