Privacy Policy | Smart Aisle Menu

Overview

Smart Aisle Menu helps you plan weekly dinners around current Aldi weekly ad deals. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your choices.

Information We Collect

Location data: Your zip code, or your device's coordinates if you allow location access, is used to find the Aldi store and weekly ad for your area. If you allow location access, those coordinates are sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find the nearest zip code or store, and they are not stored by us. Location is not saved unless you save a plan, and a saved plan keeps only the store or zip label you see in the app.
Meal plan preferences: Dietary needs, cuisine preferences, serving sizes, spending target, and cooking constraints you enter are sent to our AI to customize your plan.
Account data: If you create an account, we store your email address. Saved meal plans and favorites are linked to your account.
Weekly deals email: If you opt in to the weekly Aldi deals email, the email address you enter is stored on our server so we can send it, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Usage analytics: On our website we use Google Analytics to understand which pages and features are used, so we can keep the app working and improve it. Google Analytics uses cookies and collects information such as pages visited, device and browser type, and approximate location. It is not used to identify you personally. You can learn how Google uses this data at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites and opt out with the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. The Smart Aisle Menu iOS and Android apps do not load Google Analytics and run no third-party advertising or tracking SDKs.
Local storage: When you are signed out, favorites and saved plans are stored locally on your device. Pantry items, personal lists, ratings and alert preferences are always stored locally, using browser or app localStorage.

How We Use Your Data

To generate personalized weekly meal plans based on local Aldi deals.
To save and retrieve your meal plans when you choose to save them.
To send deal alert emails when tracked items go on sale (only if you opt in).
To improve the quality and relevance of meal suggestions over time.

Third-Party Services

Aldi: We reference publicly available Aldi weekly ad data to suggest deals. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Aldi.
AI services: Meal plans are generated using AI language models, which process your preferences and location to produce recommendations.
Google AdSense (website only): Our website shows ads served by Google. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet. You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings (https://adssettings.google.com), or opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising at https://www.aboutads.info/choices. For more, see how Google uses information from sites that use its services: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. The iOS and Android apps show no ads and load no ad script.
Amazon Associates (website only): Some pages on our website link to kitchen tools and storage containers through the Amazon Associates program, and we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. These links appear only on the website.
OpenStreetMap Nominatim: If you allow location access, your coordinates are sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find the nearest zip code or store, and are not stored by us.
Apple Sign-In: If you sign in with Apple, Apple may share a name and email (or relay email) for authentication purposes only.

Advertising, Affiliate Links and Tracking

Advertising (Google AdSense) and Amazon Associates affiliate links appear only on our website, never inside the iOS or Android app. The apps show no advertising and no affiliate links, and they do no tracking and no advertising. We do not use an advertising identifier or any third-party tracking SDK in the apps.

Data Storage & Security

Saved meal plans and community recipes are stored in our secure cloud database. Data you enter for one-time use (location, preferences) is processed in memory and not retained unless you explicitly save a plan. Saved meal plans, favorites and savings records are stored in our secure cloud database when you are signed in, and on your device when you are signed out. Pantry items, personal lists, ratings and alert preferences stay on your device and are not sent to our servers.

Your Rights

Access & delete: You can view and delete your saved meal plans at any time within the app.
Clear local data: Clearing your browser data removes all favorites, pantry items, and personal lists from your device.
Opt out of emails: Use the unsubscribe link in our emails, reply "unsubscribe" to any email we send, or email smartaislemenu@gmail.com and we will remove you.
Account deletion: Delete your account and its data in the app under Account & settings → Delete my account, or email us at smartaislemenu@gmail.com.

Children's Privacy

This app is intended for general household use and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted in the app with an updated revision date.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy or your data can be emailed to smartaislemenu@gmail.com, including requests to delete your account and data.