Meister Cheese and its affiliated entities (collectively, “Meister Cheese,” “us,” “our,” “we”) are committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, and sharing of information through our website (https://meistercheese.com and www.store.meistercheese.com) and related services (collectively, the “Sites”). This policy does not apply to data collected through other means unless specifically stated.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide you with our services and improve your experience:

a. Information You Provide Us

We may collect personal information directly from you when you:

Purchase products (e.g., name, email, shipping address, phone number, payment details).

  • Contact us with inquiries or feedback.
  • Subscribe to newsletters or other marketing materials.
  • Apply for employment through our website or third-party platforms (e.g., resume, education, and work history).

b. Information We Collect Automatically

When you interact with our Sites, we may collect:

  • Device and Browsing Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and interactions with the Sites.
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to enhance functionality, analyze usage, and provide targeted advertisements.

c. Information We Collect From Third Parties

We may receive additional information from:

  • Marketing and Analytics Platforms: Data from tools like Google Analytics and Meta (Facebook, Instagram) to understand user interactions.
  • Third-Party Service Providers: Data related to payment processing, order fulfillment, and marketing campaigns.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Order Fulfillment: To process and ship your orders, provide invoices, and handle returns or inquiries.
  • Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries and provide assistance.
  • Marketing: To send you promotional offers, newsletters, and personalized advertisements.
  • Website Optimization: To understand user behavior and improve the functionality of our Sites.
  • Compliance: To meet legal obligations, including food safety and recall processes.
  • Fraud Prevention: To protect against unauthorized activity or security breaches.

3. How We Share Information

Meister Cheese does not sell your personal information. We may share your data with:

  • Service Providers: Third-party vendors supporting order processing, marketing, or IT services.
  • Affiliates: Entities within our business group for operational purposes.
  • Advertising Partners: Platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) for targeted marketing campaigns.
  • Legal or Regulatory Authorities: To comply with applicable laws or protect our rights.
  • Business Transactions: If Meister Cheese undergoes a merger, acquisition, or asset sale.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

4. Employment Information Processing

When you apply for a position through our Careers Portal, we collect personal information such as your name, contact details, employment history, education, and any uploaded documents (e.g., resume and cover letter). This information is used to evaluate your application, communicate with you about your application status, and comply with legal requirements.

Your data may be shared internally with the hiring team and relevant managers. We may also share it with trusted third-party service providers in assisting in the recruitment process. Applicant information is stored securely and retained for a reasonable period to comply with legal obligations.

If you wish to access, update, or delete your application data, please contact mwinkers@meistercheese.com

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Meister Cheese uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on our website, analyze user behavior, and deliver personalized marketing. The tracking technologies we use include:

a. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with our website, including which pages are visited, how long users stay on the site, and what links they click.
Information Collected:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device type (desktop, mobile, or tablet)
  • Operating system
  • Referring and exit pages
  • Date and time of visits
  • On-site interactions (e.g., clicks, scrolls, time spent on pages)

This information helps us improve the performance and content of our website. You can learn more about how Google uses data by visiting Google’s Privacy Policy and opt-out options.

b. Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel)

We use Meta Pixel to track interactions on our website and serve targeted advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. Meta Pixel allows us to measure the effectiveness of our ads by reporting on user actions after viewing or clicking our ads.
Information Collected:

  • Pages visited
  • Time spent on pages
  • Actions taken (e.g., adding items to cart, completing a purchase)
  • IP address and device information
  • Browser type and operating system

This data is used for analytics, retargeting, and interest-based advertising on Meta’s platforms. For more information, visit Meta’s Privacy Policy.

c. Email Tracking Pixels

We use tracking pixels in marketing emails to measure engagement and improve our email campaigns.
Information Collected:

  • Whether the email was opened
  • Links clicked within the email
  • Time of email opening

This helps us understand what content resonates with our audience and improve future communications.

Managing Cookies: You can control the use of cookies by adjusting your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the website. To manage or delete cookies, you can visit www.aboutcookies.org.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access: Request details about the information we collect.
  • Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Deletion: Request the removal of certain personal information (subject to legal obligations).
  • Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications or targeted advertising.

To exercise your rights, contact us at aprice@meistercheese.com

7. Data Security

We take reasonable precautions to protect your information but cannot guarantee complete security due to the nature of internet transmissions. Use our services at your own risk and avoid transmitting sensitive information via unsecured methods (e.g., email).

8. Data Retention

Meister Cheese retains personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including compliance with legal, regulatory tax, accounting, or reporting requirements. We may also retain data for legitimate business purposes, such as resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and maintaining security.

Specific retention periods vary depending on the type of data and the applicable legal or regulatory obligations. For example:

  • Customer Information: Retained for the duration of the customer relationship and for a reasonable period afterward for recordkeeping and legal purposes.
  • Employment Applications: Retained for a reasonable period to comply with employment laws for consideration of future job opportunities unless the applicant requests deletion.
  • Marketing Data: Retained until the user opts out or requests deletion.
  • Cookies and Tracking Data: Retained in accordance with our cookie policy and applicable regulations.

Once data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our Sites are not intended for individuals under 16 years of age. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete it. Contact us at aprice@meistercheese.com if you believe we have collected such information.

10. Third-Party Websites

Our Sites may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before providing personal information.

11. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised “Effective Date.” Continued use of our Sites indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your rights, please contact us:

  • Email: aprice@meistercheese.com
  • Phone: 1-800-MEISTER 
  • Address: Meister Cheese, 1060 Industrial Dr, Muscoda WI 53573

Effective Date: 12/10/2024

Last Updated: 02/05/2025