Facebook Instagram
Facebook Instagram

Masters of Fine Chocolate

Facebook Instagram

WElcome to our Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 2026

Forté Chocolate collects customer information to help us serve you better. We respect your privacy and are committed to maintaining and using this information responsibly. This privacy policy explains our collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information. By visiting our website or providing information to us, you accept the practices described here.

This Privacy Policy applies to all users, customers, and visitors (“you”) of the Forté Chocolate website at www.fortechocolate.com and any other sites operated by Forté Chocolate (“we,” “us,” or “Forté Chocolate”) (collectively, the “Forté Website”), unless otherwise stated.

You agree to this Policy by accessing or using the Forté Website, registering an account, placing an order, submitting information, or authorizing others to do so on your behalf. If you do not agree, please do not use the Forté Website.Questions? Contact us at info@fortechocolate.com or Forté Chocolate, 1400 Riverside Drive, Ste D, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

We hold your information with care and use it only as described here or with your consent. We offer opt-out options for non-essential uses.

Information We Collect

  • Personal Information — Name, email address, phone number, postal/delivery address, account credentials (e.g., password), gift recipient details.
  • Billing Information — Credit card or payment details (processed securely; not stored permanently by us without consent).
  • Usage Information — IP address, browser type, device info, browsing/click patterns, order history, preferences, reviews/submissions.
  • Anonymous/Aggregated Information — Derived data that does not identify you individually (e.g., demographics, site trends).



Sources of Information

  • Directly from you (e.g., orders, registration, forms).
  • Automatically from site activity (e.g., cookies, logs).
  • From third parties (e.g., payment processors, social media if linked, shipping partners).



Sharing & Disclosure

  • Service providers/processors (e.g., WooCommerce for payments, shipping carriers) bound by contracts for limited purposes.
  • Affiliates under common control.
  • In business transfers (e.g., merger/sale).
  • As required by law or to protect rights.

We do not sell personal information as defined under CPRA. We may “share” for cross-context behavioral advertising (e.g., via remarketing pixels), which some laws treat as sharing—opt-out available below.

In the last 12 months, we have collected categories like identifiers, commercial info, internet activity; disclosed to service providers for business purposes (no sales).


Security

We use reasonable measures (e.g., encryption for payments, access controls) to protect data. We notify affected individuals/law as required in breaches. We do not store payment info long-term without PCI-compliant consent.

Retention

We retain data as needed for purposes, legal obligations, or disputes (e.g., orders ~7 years for taxes).


Links to Other Sites

We are not responsible for third-party privacy practices.


Changes

We may update this Policy; changes posted here. Review periodically.


Contact

info@fortechocolate.com | (360) 588-4859 | Address above.

How We Use Information

  • Provide services, process orders, fulfill deliveries, manage accounts.
  • Personalize your experience, send transactional emails/updates.
  • Marketing our products/services (with opt-out).
  • Improve the site, analytics, security.
  • Comply with law, prevent fraud, enforce terms.

 

We use Billing Information only for payments/support. Usage/Anonymous for optimization, aggregated reporting to partners (non-identifying).


How We Use Information

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (as amended by CPRA):

  • Right to Know — Request categories/specific pieces of PI collected, sources, purposes, third parties shared with.
  • Right to Delete — Request deletion (with exceptions, e.g., legal needs).
  • Right to Correct — Request correction of inaccurate PI.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing — Stop any sale or sharing (including for targeted ads). We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals as opt-out requests.
  • Right to Limit Use/Disclosure of Sensitive PI — Limit to necessary purposes (if we process sensitive PI like precise geolocation—typically not for chocolate e-com).
  • Right to Non-Discrimination — No different pricing/service for exercising rights.

     

To exercise: Email info@fortechocolate.com with your request details, or use any online form we provide. Verify identity as needed. We respond within 45 days (extendable 45 days). Free (up to twice/12 months for know requests).

For opt-out of sale/sharing: Click our “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link (if posted), enable GPC in your browser, or contact us. 


Cookies, Tracking, and Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, logs for functionality, analytics, personalization. Partners (e.g., Google Analytics) may track. Manage via browser settings. We honor GPC for opt-outs. Disabling may limit features.

Marketing Emails/SMS

Opt-in for promotions; unsubscribe via links or email “Unsubscribe” to info@fortechocolate.com. SMS: Reply “STOP”; no sharing for third-party marketing.

Children

Not directed at children under 13 (or 16 for sensitive PI). No knowing collection from minors.