Privacy Policy
Last updated: 3 September 2026
At Essentials Direct UK, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we may share it with and the rights you have under UK data protection law.
This policy applies when you visit or shop at essentialsdirectuk.co.uk.
1. Who We Are
Essentials Direct UK operates an online retail website selling groceries, drinks, snacks, household products, healthcare products, personal care products and other everyday essentials.
For privacy-related questions, please contact:
Email: admin@essentialsdirectuk.co.uk
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you use our website, we may collect the following information.
Personal Details
This may include:
- Your name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Billing address
- Delivery address
- Postcode
Account Information
If you create an account, we may collect and store information such as:
- Your name
- Email address
- Username
- Saved billing and delivery details
- Order history
- Account preferences
Passwords are handled securely through our website platform and are not normally available to us in readable form.
Order Information
When you place an order, we may collect:
- Products purchased
- Quantity
- Order value
- Delivery option
- Delivery instructions
- Order status
- Refund or return information
Payment Information
Payments are processed through secure payment providers available at checkout.
We do not normally store your full debit or credit card details on our website.
Payment providers may collect information necessary to process and verify your payment.
Device and Technical Information
When you use our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages visited
- Date and time of visits
- Referral source
- Website activity
This information may help us maintain security, understand website performance and improve our services.
Location Information
Our website may allow you to enter your postcode or, with your permission, use your device’s location to help determine delivery availability.
Browser-based precise location information will only be accessed where you choose to grant location permission.
You can control location permissions through your browser or device settings.
3. How We Use Your Information
We may use your personal information to:
- Process and manage your orders.
- Take and verify payments.
- Arrange delivery.
- Send order confirmations and delivery updates.
- Manage customer accounts.
- Process refunds and returns.
- Provide customer support.
- Respond to enquiries.
- Prevent fraud and unauthorised transactions.
- Maintain website security.
- Improve our website and shopping experience.
- Understand how customers use our website.
- Meet accounting, tax and legal requirements.
- Send marketing communications where permitted.
We will only use your personal information where we have a valid reason under UK data protection law.
4. Our Lawful Bases for Using Your Information
Depending on the situation, we may rely on one or more lawful bases.
Contract
We need certain information to fulfil our contract with you.
For example, we need your:
- Name
- Delivery address
- Contact details
- Order information
to process and deliver your order.
Legal Obligation
We may need to keep or process certain information to comply with legal requirements, including accounting, taxation, fraud prevention and consumer protection requirements.
Legitimate Interests
We may use personal information where necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided those interests do not unfairly override your rights.
This may include:
- Protecting our website.
- Preventing fraud.
- Improving our services.
- Understanding website performance.
- Managing customer enquiries.
- Maintaining business records.
Consent
Where consent is required, we will ask for it.
For example, consent may be used for certain marketing communications, cookies or location access.
Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw your consent at any time.
5. How We Use Your Information for Orders
When you place an order, we use the information you provide to:
- Confirm your order.
- Process payment.
- Prepare your products.
- Arrange delivery.
- Contact you regarding the order.
- Process refunds or returns.
- Handle customer service enquiries.
Without certain required information, we may be unable to process or deliver your order.
6. Marketing Communications
Where permitted, we may send you information about:
- Products
- Promotions
- Special offers
- New arrivals
- Discounts
Where consent is required, we will only send marketing communications after receiving your consent.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by:
- Using the unsubscribe link in the email; or
- Contacting us.
Stopping marketing messages will not stop essential service messages relating to your orders or account.
7. Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.
Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites operate correctly and remember certain information.
Cookies may be used for purposes such as:
- Keeping products in your basket.
- Remembering account sessions.
- Remembering delivery or postcode selections.
- Website security.
- Checkout functionality.
- Understanding website usage.
- Analytics.
- Marketing, where applicable and permitted.
Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used after appropriate consent has been obtained.
You can also manage cookies through your browser settings.
8. Who We May Share Your Information With
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share necessary information with trusted third parties that help us operate our business.
These may include:
Payment Providers
Payment providers may receive information required to authorise and process your payment.
Delivery and Courier Companies
We may provide delivery companies with information such as:
- Your name
- Delivery address
- Phone number
- Delivery instructions
where necessary to deliver your order.
Website and Hosting Providers
Service providers may process limited information while providing website hosting, ecommerce, maintenance, security or technical services.
Email and Communication Providers
We may use third-party systems to send transactional emails, customer service communications or marketing messages.
Analytics and Security Providers
We may use services that help us understand website usage, detect security threats, prevent fraud and improve website performance.
Professional Advisers
Where necessary, information may be shared with accountants, legal advisers, insurers or other professional advisers.
Government or Law Enforcement Authorities
We may disclose information where required by law, court order or another valid legal requirement.
Third parties receiving personal information are expected to handle it securely and only for appropriate purposes.
9. International Data Transfers
Some service providers we use may store or process information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by UK data protection law.
10. How Long We Keep Your Information
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
Order and transaction records may be retained for several years where necessary to comply with:
- Tax requirements
- Accounting requirements
- Legal obligations
- Fraud prevention
- Dispute resolution
Customer account information may remain stored while your account is active.
Where information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymise or securely dispose of it.
11. How We Protect Your Information
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:
- Unauthorised access.
- Accidental loss.
- Misuse.
- Alteration.
- Disclosure.
- Destruction.
Our website uses secure connections where appropriate, and payments are handled through secure payment providers.
However, no internet-based system can guarantee absolute security.
You are also responsible for keeping your account password secure.
12. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you rights including:
Right of Access
You can ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right to Correction
You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Right to Erasure
In certain circumstances, you can ask us to delete your personal information.
Right to Restrict Processing
You may have the right to ask us to limit how your information is used.
Right to Object
In certain circumstances, you may object to how we use your personal information.
You can object to direct marketing at any time.
Right to Data Portability
In certain situations, you may request that your information is provided to you or transferred to another organisation in a commonly used format.
Right to Withdraw Consent
Where we rely on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time.
These rights are subject to applicable UK data protection law and may not apply in every situation.
13. Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of your privacy rights, contact:
admin@essentialsdirectuk.co.uk
Please provide enough information for us to identify you and understand your request.
We may need to verify your identity before providing or changing personal information.
We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable UK data protection law.
14. Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for general retail customers and is not designed specifically for children.
We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information directly from children where doing so would be inappropriate or unlawful.
Where age-restricted products are offered, appropriate age restrictions and verification measures may apply.
15. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to websites operated by third parties.
We are not responsible for how those third-party websites collect or use personal information.
You should review their privacy policies before providing personal information to them.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Changes may be made because of:
- Changes to our website.
- New services or features.
- Changes to our business operations.
- Changes in UK privacy law.
- Changes to third-party services we use.
The latest version will be published on this page with the updated date shown at the top.
17. Complaints
If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the matter.
You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.
Further information about your data protection rights is available from the ICO.
18. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, contact:
Essentials Direct UK