Terms and Conditions

LocalBites brings local home cooks and bakers together with local buyers in one place. Our platform helps talented cooks showcase their dishes, reach more buyers, and organise their listings, while cooks stay fully in control of their own food, pricing, and how they sell.

A business, sole trader, or individual who uses LocalBites to showcase and sell home-cooked or home-baked food is referred to in these terms as a “Cook” (also referred to as “you” or “your”). Those who use LocalBites to discover, contact, and order from Cooks are referred to as “Buyers”.

LocalBites provides an online venue that connects Buyers with Cooks in the local area. A Cook lists dishes they make available (each a “Listing”), and Buyers browse those Listings to discover food nearby and arrange an order directly with the Cook.

These Cook Terms (“Terms”) are a binding agreement between you and LocalBites (“LocalBites”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), operated by LocalBites Ltd, of Cork, Ireland. When used in these Terms, “platform” means the LocalBites website, application, and any related communication channels we operate.

By signing up for, accessing, or using LocalBites as a Cook, you agree to these Terms.

These Terms reflect the way LocalBites works and the laws that apply to our relationship with you. Among other things, they set out:

• What you can expect from us and the platform.
• What we expect from you, including the rules for using the platform.
• How the interaction between you and Buyers works.
• Your rights and responsibilities if there is a disagreement, and what happens in a dispute.

Understanding these Terms is important because, by using LocalBites, you agree to them.

We also maintain other terms and policies that supplement these Terms, such as our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect and use personal data, and our Cookie Policy. We encourage you to read them so you understand how your information is handled.

Discovery and introduction. LocalBites operates as a discovery and connection platform. We help Buyers find your dishes and put them in touch with you. When a Buyer taps Contact, they may open WhatsApp (or another channel) with a prefilled enquiry. That is an introduction, not an in-app paid order. Menu totals shown to you as an “enquiry estimate” are quotes for discussion — not LocalBites completed sales.

Cook Account. To use the platform you must register and create a Cook account, providing the information we reasonably require during sign-up or afterwards. You must keep your account information complete, accurate, and up to date. Failure to do so may affect our ability to provide the service to you.

Listings. You create Listings for the dishes you make available. You are responsible for the accuracy of every Listing, including the dish description, price, portion size, collection or handover arrangements, and allergen information (see section 4).

Orders on the Contact path. When a Buyer contacts you, any order becomes binding only when you and the Buyer agree it directly. You remain in control of whether to accept. Payment on that path is between you and the Buyer outside LocalBites unless you use Pay in LocalBites below.

Payment and handover (Contact path). You and the Buyer agree the payment method and the collection or handover arrangements directly between you. LocalBites does not collect payment on your behalf on the Contact path.

Sell in LocalBites / DAC7 Agree. If you choose to sell through in-app checkout (Pay in LocalBites), you must Agree in cook Settings (Payment method) and supply identity information we reasonably require for platform operator reporting. LocalBites may report completed in-app sales and related activity to Revenue under Irish / EU DAC7 (AEOI) rules where they apply. Agreeing to sell in LocalBites is a product opt-in to in-app pay — it is not a personal opt-out from reporting for periods in which you took reportable in-app sales. WhatsApp-only kitchens stay on the Contact path until they Agree and checkout is available.

Availability and capacity. You decide what to offer, how much to make, and when it is available. You are responsible for keeping your Listings current and for removing or updating any dish that is no longer available.

Removing Listings. We may remove or pause a Listing at our reasonable discretion where necessary, for example in the event of a food safety concern, complaint, dispute, suspected breach of these Terms, or where required by law.

We cannot cover everything here, but the following are an important part of your relationship with LocalBites.

By accepting these Terms, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and that you have the authority to enter into this agreement, whether on your own behalf or on behalf of the business you represent.

You, and not LocalBites, are responsible for understanding and complying with all laws, rules, and regulations that apply to your provision of food to Buyers.

You are solely responsible for the food you provide, including its preparation, quality, safety, contents, and accurate labelling. LocalBites does not verify, inspect, or take responsibility for the food you make or sell.

You must ensure your Listings are truthful, accurate, and not misleading, and that any photographs and descriptions genuinely represent the food you provide.

You must immediately remove the relevant Listing and notify us if any of the following occur:

• you recall, or are required to recall, any food you have provided to Buyers through the platform;
• you become aware of a problem or risk relating to food you have provided.

If any of these occur, we may pause or remove your Listings and notify affected Buyers where we reasonably consider it necessary.

LocalBites provides the platform that connects Buyers and Cooks. We are an intermediary only. We do not own, produce, control, inspect, or sell any of the food listed, and we are not a party to any sale or agreement made between you and a Buyer. Food lovers also have an Independent kitchens section in the Terms for food lovers.

Accordingly, we are not responsible for:

• any food you provide to Buyers, including its contents, quality, or safety;
• the preparation, production, storage, labelling, handling, or handover of that food, or compliance with applicable food law; or
• fulfilling any obligation you owe to a Buyer.

Where we receive a complaint from a Buyer about their experience on the platform, we will handle it in line with our internal processes. We may need information from you, which you agree to provide promptly. Complaints that relate only to the quality, safety, or content of a dish are a matter between you and the Buyer, and we may direct the Buyer to you.

If you receive a complaint that is genuinely about LocalBites itself, please direct the Buyer to us or forward it to us.

Free to join today. There is no cost to sign up for, or list on, LocalBites at this stage. If we introduce any fee or commission in the future, we will tell you clearly and give you reasonable advance notice before it takes effect.

Contact path. While Buyers use Contact / WhatsApp introductions, payment for your dishes is made by the Buyer directly to you. LocalBites does not collect, hold, or process those payments on your behalf, and does not deduct any amount from those sales.

Your own tax affairs. You are responsible for your own tax obligations, including any income tax, VAT, or other taxes that may apply to your sales. LocalBites does not provide tax advice.

Pay in LocalBites and DAC7. When you Agree to sell in LocalBites and take in-app checkout, LocalBites may process payments through our payment partners and may report completed in-app sales and related activity under Irish / EU DAC7 (AEOI) platform-operator rules where they apply. You must provide accurate identity information we request for that purpose. Returning to WhatsApp-only selling (when we offer that) does not erase reporting duties for in-app sales already taken in a reportable period. Enquiry estimates from Contact are not treated as LocalBites completed sales.

You are responsible for your Cook account and for who is allowed to access and manage it. You decide who your authorised users are and what access they have, and you can change or remove that access at any time.

You should note that:

• you are responsible for all activity carried out through your account;
• you must keep your account details, including a current email address and phone number, accurate and up to date;
• you are responsible for providing true, accurate, and complete information; and
• you are responsible for keeping your login details secure and protected from misuse.

These Terms apply to every authorised user you add to your account.

You and LocalBites each agree to comply with all applicable data protection and privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) (the “GDPR”) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.

Our collection and use of personal data relating to Buyers and Cooks is described in our Privacy Policy. Any personal data you receive about a Buyer in connection with an order must be used only to fulfil that order and must not be used for any unrelated purpose or shared without a lawful basis.

While using the platform, you may share confidential information with us and may learn confidential information about us. Each of us agrees to take reasonable steps to protect the other's confidential information from unauthorised access. Either party may disclose confidential information where required by law or by a competent authority. Information is not confidential if it is already lawfully known to the recipient without a duty of confidence, or is publicly available other than through a breach of this section.

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes either party's liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law.

Subject to clause 10.1, and to the extent permitted by law, LocalBites is not responsible for:

• loss of profits, revenue, business, goodwill, or anticipated savings;
• any indirect or consequential loss; or
• any loss or damage arising from the food you provide, including any illness, allergic reaction, injury, or other harm connected with that food, which remains your responsibility as the Cook.

Subject to clause 10.1, and to the extent permitted by law, our total liability arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the platform is limited to the total fees, if any, you paid to us in the 3 months before the relevant event.

You agree to indemnify LocalBites and its directors, officers, employees, and contractors against any claims, losses, damages, fines, costs, and legal fees arising out of or relating to the food you provide, your breach of these Terms, or your breach of any applicable law, including food safety and allergen law.

You allow us to display your Cook name, profile, dish photographs, and related content on the platform so that Buyers can discover your Listings. You confirm that you own or have the right to use any content you upload, and that it does not infringe anyone else's rights.

While you are an active Cook on LocalBites, you may use our name and logo to indicate your presence on the platform, in line with any brand guidance we provide. Any other use of our name, logo, or materials requires our prior written consent. Except for your own name, logo, and content, all materials on the platform remain our property.

We may suspend or end your access to the platform, including removing your account, at our reasonable discretion, for example where:

• you materially or repeatedly breach these Terms;
• we are required to do so to comply with the law or a court order;
• we reasonably believe your conduct causes harm or risk to us, a Buyer, or a third party, including any food safety risk; or
• your account is inactive for an extended period.

If you believe your account has been suspended or ended in error, please contact us.

You are free to stop using LocalBites at any time.

As is. The platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the extent permitted by law, we disclaim all implied warranties, and we are held only to the express commitments we make in these Terms.

Changes to these Terms. We may update these Terms from time to time. We will give you reasonable notice of material changes before they take effect, unless we must make a change immediately for legal reasons. Changes will not apply retrospectively. If you continue to use the platform after updated Terms take effect, you accept the updated Terms. The version and date at the top of this document indicate the current version.

Assignment. You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign or transfer our rights and obligations, on reasonable prior notice.

Governing law and jurisdiction. These Terms are governed by the laws of Ireland, and the courts of Ireland have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, without prejudice to any non-waivable rights you have as a consumer or small business under applicable law.

Resolving disputes. Most concerns can be resolved quickly by contacting us. If we cannot resolve a dispute informally, either party may pursue it before the courts of Ireland.

Contacting each other. If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at localbitesie@gmail.com. Any notice we send you will be sent to the email address in your account.