Cookie Policy
Last updated: 3 September 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Essentials Direct UK uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit essentialsdirectuk.co.uk.
We use cookies to help our website work correctly, remember certain preferences, understand how our website is used and, where applicable and permitted, support advertising and marketing activities.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small files or pieces of information stored on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you visit a website.
Cookies can help websites remember information about your visit, such as:
- Products added to your basket
- Login sessions
- Website preferences
- Delivery or postcode selections
- Pages you visit
- How the website performs
Some cookies operate only during your browsing session, while others may remain on your device for a longer period.
2. Similar Technologies
In addition to traditional cookies, websites may use similar technologies such as:
- Local storage
- Tracking pixels
- Scripts and tags
- Other browser storage technologies
Where applicable, references to “cookies” in this policy also include similar technologies.
3. Why We Use Cookies
We may use cookies to:
- Keep our website secure
- Allow our shopping basket and checkout to work
- Keep you signed into your account
- Remember selected preferences
- Remember postcode or delivery-related selections
- Improve website functionality
- Understand website usage and performance
- Identify technical problems
- Measure the effectiveness of our website
- Support advertising and marketing where applicable and permitted
4. Strictly Necessary Cookies
Some cookies are necessary for our website and online shop to function correctly.
These may be used for purposes such as:
- Shopping basket functionality
- Checkout
- Processing orders
- Customer account login
- Website security
- Fraud prevention
- Remembering essential session information
- Maintaining website stability
These cookies may be used without consent where permitted by applicable UK law because they are necessary to provide a service you have requested.
Blocking these cookies through your browser may prevent parts of our website from working correctly.
5. Preference and Functionality Cookies
We may use cookies or similar technologies to remember choices you make and improve how our website functions.
For example, these may help remember:
- Delivery area or postcode selections
- Display preferences
- Website functionality choices
- Other settings selected by you
Where the applicable legal requirements for an exemption are met, these technologies may be used without prior consent.
Where an exemption does not apply, we will request consent where required.
Where legally required, we will also provide a simple way for you to object or change your preference.
6. Analytics and Statistical Cookies
We may use analytics technologies to understand how visitors use our website.
This may include information about:
- Number of website visits
- Pages viewed
- Popular products or pages
- Device and browser type
- Website performance
- Page loading speeds
- How visitors navigate through the website
- General traffic sources
We use this information to understand and improve our website and customer experience.
Certain limited statistical technologies may be used without prior consent where they meet an applicable exception under UK law, including requirements relating to how the information is used and giving users an appropriate way to object.
Where analytics technologies do not qualify for an exemption, we will request consent before using them.
7. Advertising and Marketing Cookies
Where we use advertising or marketing technologies, they may help us:
- Measure advertising performance
- Understand whether an advertisement resulted in a visit or purchase
- Show more relevant advertisements
- Measure marketing campaigns
- Understand customer interactions with advertising
Advertising and tracking technologies that require consent will not be used until you have provided the required consent.
You can refuse or withdraw your consent to these cookies without preventing you from using the basic shopping functions of our website.
8. Third-Party Cookies
Some services used on our website may be provided by third parties.
These may include services relating to:
- Payment processing
- Website analytics
- Security
- Advertising
- Social media
- Embedded content
- Customer support
- Website functionality
These third-party providers may use cookies or similar technologies in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies.
Where their technologies require consent, they should only be activated after the appropriate consent has been provided.
9. Payment and Checkout Cookies
Our payment providers may use cookies or similar technologies where necessary to:
- Process payments securely
- Prevent fraud
- Verify transactions
- Maintain secure checkout sessions
Some of these technologies may be strictly necessary for the payment service requested by the customer.
Payment providers may also process information according to their own privacy policies.
10. Customer Account and Login Cookies
If you create or use a customer account, cookies may be used to:
- Keep you securely logged in
- Recognise your account session
- Protect your account
- Support account functionality
These cookies may be necessary to provide account services requested by you.
11. Shopping Basket Cookies
Cookies may be used to remember products that you add to your shopping basket.
Without these cookies, our website may not be able to:
- Remember products in your basket
- Maintain quantities
- Move products through checkout
- Complete your order correctly
These cookies are generally necessary for the operation of our online store.
12. Cookie Consent
Where consent is required under UK law, we will ask for your permission before using the relevant cookies or similar technologies.
You may be able to choose between options such as:
- Accepting optional cookies
- Rejecting optional cookies
- Managing individual cookie categories
Simply continuing to browse our website will not by itself be treated as consent where positive consent is legally required.
Cookies that qualify for an applicable legal exception may operate without prior consent.
13. Changing Your Cookie Preferences
Where our website provides cookie preference controls, you can use them to change your choices.
You may withdraw consent for optional cookies at any time.
Changing your preferences will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before your consent was withdrawn.
14. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings.
Depending on your browser, you may be able to:
- View stored cookies
- Delete cookies
- Block certain cookies
- Block third-party cookies
- Block all cookies
- Clear cookies automatically
- Use private or incognito browsing
Please note that blocking all cookies may prevent important features of our website from working properly.
For example, your:
- Shopping basket
- Checkout
- Customer account
- Saved preferences
may not function correctly.
15. How Long Cookies Remain on Your Device
The length of time a cookie remains on your device depends on its purpose.
Some cookies are session cookies and are deleted when you close your browser.
Others are persistent cookies and may remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them.
We aim to keep cookie durations appropriate for their intended purpose.
16. Personal Information
Some cookies and similar technologies may involve the processing of personal information.
Where personal information is processed, it will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection law.
17. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time.
This may happen because of:
- Changes to our website
- Changes to the cookies or technologies we use
- New services or features
- Changes to UK law or regulatory guidance
The latest version will be published on this page and the “Last updated” date will be changed accordingly.
18. Contact Us
If you have any questions about how we use cookies or similar technologies, please contact:
Essentials Direct UK