1. Definitions

Throughout these Terms, the following definitions apply:

FoodCS, we, our, or us means FoodCS Limited and its affiliated companies.

Platform means the FoodCS website, applications, software, AI systems, escrow services, payment services and related technologies.

Client or Entrepreneur means any individual or organisation seeking food-related services through FoodCS.

Expert means any consultant, manufacturer, food scientist, product developer, laboratory, packaging specialist, regulatory adviser, designer or other professional offering services through FoodCS.

Project means any engagement, contract or piece of work agreed between a Client and an Expert through FoodCS.

Project Agreement means the individual contract generated for a specific Project between the Client and the Expert.

Escrow means funds securely held by FoodCS or its authorised payment provider until they are released in accordance with the Project Agreement.

Content means text, images, recipes, formulations, documents, messages, designs, videos, software, files and any other material uploaded to the Platform.

2. Our Role

FoodCS is a technology platform that facilitates introductions, communication, project management, secure payments and escrow services between Clients and Experts.

Unless expressly stated otherwise:

• FoodCS is not the manufacturer, consultant or supplier of any services offered through the Platform.
• FoodCS is not an employer, employee, partner, agent or representative of any Client or Expert.
• FoodCS is not a party to the commercial agreement entered into between a Client and an Expert, except where required to administer escrow payments or enforce these Terms.
• Experts operate as independent businesses and remain solely responsible for the services they provide.

While we take reasonable steps to verify Experts and improve trust within the marketplace, FoodCS does not guarantee the quality, legality, safety, suitability or outcome of any services provided through the Platform.

3. Eligibility

4. Accounts

5. Verification

FoodCS may verify the identity, qualifications or business information of Clients and Experts.

Verification may include:

• identity checks;
• company registration;
• professional qualifications;
• food safety certifications;
• manufacturing licences;
• regulatory registrations;
• proof of address; and
• any additional documentation reasonably required.

Verification status indicates only that certain information has been reviewed by FoodCS.

It does not constitute a guarantee, endorsement or certification of competence, quality or future performance.

FoodCS reserves the right to approve, refuse, suspend or revoke verification at any time.

6. Platform Services

FoodCS provides technology designed to help food businesses connect with suitable Experts.

Platform services may include:

• AI-powered expert matching;
• project management tools;
• messaging;
• quotation requests;
• milestone tracking;
• document sharing;
• secure payments;
• escrow services;
• progress monitoring;
• reviews and ratings; and
• additional services introduced from time to time.

Some services may require payment or subscription.

Where fees apply, they will be clearly displayed before purchase.

7. AI Services

Certain FoodCS features use artificial intelligence to generate recommendations, summaries, matches or other information.

While we continually improve these systems, AI-generated content may occasionally be inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable for your particular circumstances.

AI outputs should be treated as informational only and should not replace appropriate professional, regulatory or legal advice.

Users remain responsible for reviewing and verifying any information generated through AI before relying upon it.

8. User Responsibilities

All users agree to use the Platform honestly, professionally and in compliance with applicable laws.

You agree that you will:

• provide truthful information;
• communicate respectfully with other users;
• honour agreements entered into through the Platform;
• comply with all applicable food safety, consumer protection and regulatory requirements;
• cooperate during dispute investigations;
• maintain the confidentiality of sensitive commercial information; and
• use the Platform only for lawful purposes.

Clients remain responsible for carrying out their own commercial due diligence before engaging an Expert.

Experts remain responsible for ensuring that the services they provide comply with all applicable legal and professional requirements.

9. Prohibited Activities

Users must not:

• provide false identities or misleading information;
• impersonate another individual or business;
• upload malicious software or harmful code;
• interfere with the operation or security of the Platform;
• use automated tools to scrape or copy Platform data without permission;
• harass, threaten or abuse other users;
• submit fraudulent payment information;
• manipulate ratings or reviews;
• attempt to circumvent FoodCS to avoid applicable Platform fees where prohibited by these Terms;
• upload unlawful, infringing or misleading content; or
• use the Platform in any way that may damage FoodCS or its users.

FoodCS may investigate suspected violations and take appropriate action, including suspension or permanent termination of accounts.

10. Projects and Project Agreements

FoodCS enables Clients and Experts to enter into individual Projects through the Platform.

Each Project shall be governed by a separate Project Agreement, which sets out the specific scope of work, pricing, milestones, delivery dates and any additional terms agreed between the parties.

By accepting a Project Agreement, both the Client and the Expert enter into a legally binding contract with one another.

FoodCS facilitates the creation and administration of these agreements but is not a contracting party to the commercial relationship between the Client and the Expert unless expressly stated otherwise.

Where there is any inconsistency between these Terms and a Project Agreement, the Project Agreement shall prevail only in relation to that specific Project.

11. Escrow Services

To promote trust and protect both parties, FoodCS requires payments to be made into an escrow account before work begins.

Escrow funds are held securely by FoodCS or its authorised payment provider until they are released in accordance with the applicable Project Agreement.

While funds are held in escrow:

• the Client cannot withdraw or recover the funds except as permitted by the Project Agreement or these Terms;
• the Expert cannot access the funds until they become eligible for release; and
• FoodCS may temporarily suspend the release of funds where a dispute or suspected fraud exists.

FoodCS may introduce different escrow options, including milestone-based releases, staged payments or other payment structures.

12. Payment Processing

Payments made through FoodCS are processed by authorised third-party payment providers.

By making a payment, you authorise FoodCS and its payment partners to:

• collect payments;
• hold funds in escrow where applicable;
• deduct authorised Platform fees;
• process refunds where required;
• release payments in accordance with the applicable Project Agreement.

FoodCS does not store full payment card information unless required by law or handled through certified payment providers.

13. Release of Escrow Funds

Escrow funds will normally be released when one of the following occurs:

• the Client confirms satisfactory completion of the agreed work;
• the Project Agreement provides for automatic release after a specified review period;
• a milestone has been successfully completed under a milestone-based Project;
• FoodCS determines that escrow funds should be released following a dispute investigation in accordance with the applicable Project Agreement.

Where fraud, legal concerns, regulatory issues or payment irregularities are suspected, FoodCS may delay the release of funds until appropriate investigations have been completed.

14. Platform Fees

FoodCS may charge fees for services provided through the Platform.

These may include:

• transaction fees;
• escrow administration fees;
• subscription fees;
• payment processing fees;
• premium service fees;
• verification fees; or
• other fees introduced from time to time.

Any applicable fees will be displayed before they become payable.

FoodCS reserves the right to amend its fee structure by providing reasonable notice to users.

15. Taxes

Each user is solely responsible for determining, reporting and paying any taxes, duties, VAT, customs charges or other governmental charges arising from their use of the Platform or from Projects completed through FoodCS.

FoodCS does not provide tax advice and is not responsible for calculating or paying taxes on behalf of users unless required by applicable law.

16. Cancellations

Projects may be cancelled only in accordance with the applicable Project Agreement.

Where no specific cancellation terms exist, cancellations may be permitted by mutual agreement between the Client and the Expert.

FoodCS may suspend payment processing while a cancellation request is being reviewed.

Platform subscription fees are generally non-refundable unless otherwise stated.

17. Dispute Resolution

FoodCS encourages Clients and Experts to resolve disagreements directly through respectful communication.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved, either party may submit the dispute through the FoodCS dispute process.

During a dispute, FoodCS may request relevant evidence, including:

• Platform messages;
• uploaded documents;
• recipes;
• formulations;
• photographs;
• videos;
• invoices;
• laboratory reports;
• delivery confirmations;
• milestone submissions; and
• any other information reasonably required to assess the matter.

FoodCS may review the available evidence and determine how escrow funds should be administered in accordance with the applicable Project Agreement and Platform policies.

FoodCS does not act as a court of law or legal arbitrator, and either party remains entitled to pursue any legal rights available under the governing law.

18. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes

Users agree not to initiate payment chargebacks without first attempting to resolve the issue through the FoodCS dispute process.

Where a payment is reversed, disputed or charged back, FoodCS may:

• suspend the relevant account;
• recover amounts owed;
• withhold future payments;
• cancel ongoing Projects; or
• take any other reasonable action necessary to protect the Platform and its users.

Users remain responsible for any fees or losses arising from fraudulent or unjustified chargebacks.

19. Reviews and Ratings

Following completion of a Project, FoodCS may allow Clients and Experts to leave reviews and ratings.

Reviews should be honest, fair and based on genuine experience.

Users must not:

• submit false reviews;
• manipulate ratings;
• exchange reviews for payment or incentives;
• threaten negative reviews to obtain refunds or discounts; or
• post abusive, defamatory or unlawful content.

FoodCS reserves the right to remove or moderate reviews that breach these Terms.

The existence, removal or moderation of reviews does not imply endorsement of any user by FoodCS.

20. Platform Circumvention

FoodCS invests significant resources in connecting Clients with suitable Experts.

Users introduced through the Platform must not intentionally circumvent FoodCS for the purpose of avoiding applicable Platform fees.

Examples of circumvention include:

• requesting or accepting direct payment outside the Platform for a Project introduced through FoodCS;
• encouraging another user to cancel a Project in order to continue the engagement privately;
• sharing payment details with the intention of avoiding Platform fees; or
• using the Platform solely to identify users before completing transactions elsewhere.

Where FoodCS reasonably believes that users have intentionally circumvented the Platform, we may suspend accounts, terminate access, recover unpaid fees where legally permitted, or take any other action reasonably necessary to protect the integrity of the Platform.

21. Communications

FoodCS may provide messaging and communication tools to assist with Projects.

For the protection of all parties, users are encouraged to keep Project-related communications within the Platform.

Where a dispute arises, FoodCS will place greater weight on communications and evidence available through the Platform than communications conducted elsewhere.

FoodCS reserves the right to monitor communications where necessary to investigate fraud, security concerns, abuse or breaches of these Terms, subject to applicable privacy laws.

22. Intellectual Property

23. Confidentiality

Users may receive confidential commercial, technical or personal information while using FoodCS.

Unless required by law, users agree not to disclose confidential information obtained through the Platform without the permission of the other party.

Confidential information includes, but is not limited to:

• recipes;
• formulations;
• manufacturing processes;
• pricing;
• business plans;
• customer information;
• supplier information;
• commercial strategies;
• technical documentation; and
• any information identified as confidential.

This obligation continues after a Project has ended.

24. Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance

Experts remain solely responsible for ensuring that their services comply with all applicable food laws, regulations and industry standards.

Where applicable, Experts confirm that they hold any licences, registrations, approvals or certifications required to provide their services.

Clients remain responsible for ensuring that any products they manufacture, sell or distribute comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

FoodCS does not inspect manufacturing facilities, certify food products or guarantee regulatory compliance.

Nothing within the Platform should be interpreted as regulatory approval of any product, ingredient, formulation or manufacturing process.

25. Privacy and Data Protection

FoodCS processes personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Our collection, storage and use of personal information is explained in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

Users are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of their login credentials and for ensuring that personal information uploaded to the Platform may lawfully be shared.

26. Suspension and Termination

FoodCS may suspend, restrict or permanently terminate access to the Platform where we reasonably believe that a user has:

• breached these Terms;
• breached a Project Agreement;
• engaged in fraudulent or unlawful activity;
• attempted to circumvent the Platform;
• abused another user;
• failed required verification checks;
• submitted false information;
• created multiple accounts in breach of these Terms;
• created unacceptable legal, regulatory or security risks.

Where appropriate, we may investigate suspected breaches before taking action.

Suspension of an account does not affect any outstanding contractual obligations between Clients and Experts.

FoodCS may continue administering escrow funds or ongoing disputes after an account has been suspended or terminated.

Users may close their account at any time through the Platform or by contacting FoodCS.

Certain information may be retained where required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

27. Availability of the Platform

We aim to keep the Platform available at all times.

However, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access.

The Platform may occasionally become unavailable due to:

• maintenance;
• software updates;
• security incidents;
• technical failures;
• third-party service interruptions; or
• events beyond our reasonable control.

FoodCS shall not be liable for temporary interruptions to the availability of the Platform.

28. Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded under the laws of England and Wales.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, FoodCS shall not be liable for:

• losses arising from agreements between Clients and Experts;
• the quality or suitability of services provided through the Platform;
• food safety incidents;
• manufacturing defects;
• product recalls;
• regulatory action;
• business interruption;
• loss of profits;
• loss of goodwill;
• loss of business opportunities;
• indirect or consequential losses; or
• losses arising from reliance on AI-generated recommendations.

Where FoodCS is found liable for any claim arising from these Terms, our total liability shall not exceed the total Platform fees paid by the claimant to FoodCS during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

29. Indemnity

Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless FoodCS, its directors, employees and affiliates against any claims, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses arising from:

• their use of the Platform;
• their breach of these Terms;
• their breach of a Project Agreement;
• infringement of another person's intellectual property rights;
• unlawful conduct;
• negligent acts or omissions; or
• services or products they provide through the Platform.

This clause survives termination of these Terms.

30. Force Majeure

FoodCS shall not be liable for delays or failures resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

These include, but are not limited to:

• natural disasters;
• severe weather;
• fire;
• flood;
• pandemic;
• war;
• terrorism;
• industrial disputes;
• government action;
• internet outages;
• cyber attacks; or
• failures of third-party service providers.

Where reasonably possible, we will take steps to minimise disruption and restore services.

31. Changes to These Terms

FoodCS may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in:

• applicable law;
• Platform features;
• payment services;
• business practices; or
• regulatory requirements.

Where changes are significant, we will provide reasonable notice through the Platform or by email.

Continued use of the Platform after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

32. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

33. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any applicable Project Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between FoodCS and its users regarding use of the Platform.

They replace any previous agreements, understandings or representations relating to the same subject matter.

34. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms.

35. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding these Terms, please contact us.

FoodCS Limited

Email: info@foodcs.co.uk

Address: TBC

We will make reasonable efforts to respond to enquiries as promptly as possible.

Many Thanks,

Founder - FoodCS

Website: https://www.foodcs.co.uk/

Email: info@foodcs.co.uk