Legal

Terms & Conditions

Version 1.0 · Updated 28/07/2026

These Terms and Conditions are incorporated by reference into the Host Kitchen Agreement between FoodCo and the Client (the Agreement) and are accepted electronically by the Client. Capitalized terms used but not defined here have the meaning given to them in the Agreement.
Clause 1

Definitions

1.1 Business means the Client's operation of food and beverage preparation, production, and supply through physical and virtual channels.

1.2 Brand means a virtual or cloud kitchen concept operated primarily through online food delivery platforms and digital channels, including its trade name, trademarks, menu, recipes, visual identity, marketing materials, customer goodwill, intellectual property, and digital presence, and not involving a standalone physical retail outlet.

1.3 Each Party represents that it has full legal capacity, authority, and power to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

Clause 2

Object of the Agreement

2.1 The Client engages FoodCo, and FoodCo accepts the engagement, to provide digital brand management, brand creation, marketing, and online sales growth services in relation to the Business, solely as set out in this Agreement.

2.2 This engagement is non-exclusive. FoodCo may provide similar or identical services to other clients on the same or similar terms, without restriction.

2.3 Nothing in this Agreement creates any agency, partnership, joint venture, or representative relationship between the Parties, or between the Client and any affiliate of FoodCo.

2.4 FoodCo has the authority to bind and represent the Brands created or assigned under this Agreement, and to manage and administer related revenues and funds, solely for digital operations, marketing, platform management, and performance optimization.

Clause 3

The Brands

3.1 FoodCo has full discretion to list, promote, and operate the Brands on any online food delivery platform, digital marketplace, or social media platform it deems appropriate throughout the period described in Clause 2.1 of the Agreement.

3.2 The Parties document each additional Brand added under this Agreement in a written addendum, Schedule A, signed by both Parties. Schedule A governs the count and identity of Brands covered by this Agreement. Renaming an existing Brand already documented in Schedule A does not require an addendum update and does not affect the Brand's status under this Agreement.

3.3 The Client holds the exclusive right to retain ownership of, license, relocate, assign, franchise, discontinue, or offer for sale any FoodCo Brand it owns under Clause 2.1 of the Agreement, subject only to FoodCo's rights during the six month period described in that Clause, and subject to Clause 3.5 of these Terms and Conditions.

3.4 Until the six month period described in Clause 2.1 of the Agreement has concluded, or FoodCo has exercised its exit right, the Client will not transfer, sell, or grant a third party rights in the Brand that would prevent FoodCo from exercising its rights under that Clause, without FoodCo's prior written consent.

3.5 Where Brand ownership has transferred to FoodCo under Clause 2.1 of the Agreement, and the aggregate gross sales of one or more FoodCo Brands exceed forty percent of the Client's total gross sales for a continuous period of not less than three consecutive months, FoodCo has the right to propose a strategic equity participation or partnership arrangement in relation to the Business. This right may only be exercised at or after the six month point described in Clause 2.1 of the Agreement. The Parties will negotiate any such arrangement in good faith. Nothing in this Clause automatically creates a partnership, joint venture, shareholder relationship, or transfer of ownership. Any such arrangement is effective only on execution of a separate written agreement.

3.6 The Client commits to a minimum brand management period of six months from each Brand's launch date. During that period the Client will not terminate, transfer, or change the management of any FoodCo Brand, appoint any third party to perform the services described in Clause 3.2 of the Agreement in relation to a Brand, or assume that management itself, unless otherwise agreed in writing and signed by both Parties. This Clause 3.6 applies in addition to the Client's obligations under Clauses 3.3 and 3.4 of these Terms and Conditions.

Clause 4

Indemnification

4.1 The Client will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless FoodCo, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and employees from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in any way connected to the Client's operation of the Business, the matters listed in Clause 4.1 of the Agreement, or the Client's breach of this Agreement.

4.2 The indemnity and liability allocation in the Agreement and in this Clause 4 does not extend to any claim, damage, or loss finally determined by a competent UAE court to have arisen directly from FoodCo's own gross negligence or wilful misconduct in the performance of its obligations under Clause 3.2 of the Agreement.

4.3 Any order rejection, cancellation, delay, incorrect fulfilment, substitution, or other operational error or failure by the Client, its staff, contractors, or suppliers does not affect FoodCo's scope of services, entitlement to fees, or payment rights under this Agreement, and gives rise to no liability on FoodCo's part.

Clause 5

Order Management and Cancellation Policy

5.1 For FoodCo Brands hosted by the Client, a maximum of two order cancellations per week is permitted without financial responsibility to the Client. Where the cancellation ratio exceeds two orders in a single week, FoodCo remains entitled to its full commission on all orders, including those cancelled beyond the permitted limit.

Clause 6

Operational Performance and Compliance

6.1 The Client will treat FoodCo Brands with the same operational priority and commitment as its own primary brands, including order acceptance, preparation times, and availability.

6.2 The Client will not place FoodCo Brands on busy status or cancel their orders unless the Client's own primary brands are simultaneously placed on busy status or experiencing similar cancellations.

6.3 Where the Client fails to comply with this Clause 6, including discriminatory treatment of Brands, unjustified cancellations, brand damage, or intended revenue loss to FoodCo, FoodCo may impose a penalty, evaluated against the affected Brand's revenue and the severity and frequency of non-compliance, capped at a maximum cumulative 150,000 USD per calendar year, communicated to the Client in writing.

Clause 7

Regulatory Compliance

7.1 The Client warrants that it holds, and will maintain throughout the term of this Agreement, all licenses, permits, and certifications required under UAE law to lawfully operate the Business, including those listed in Schedule 1.

7.2 The Client will notify FoodCo in writing within twenty four hours of receiving any regulatory violation notice, closure order, health authority action, or material downgrade in its municipal food safety rating.

7.3 Failure to maintain any requirement in Schedule 1 is a material breach of this Agreement and entitles FoodCo to terminate for cause under Clause 10.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

Clause 8

Inspection and Audit Rights

8.1 FoodCo and its affiliates may inspect or audit the Client's compliance with this Agreement, including food safety, hygiene, and operational standards, at any time and at a frequency determined at FoodCo's sole discretion, with or without prior notice.

8.2 FoodCo may conduct such inspections directly or through third party mystery shopper orders placed to assess food quality, packaging, and service standards.

Clause 9

Confidentiality

9.1 Information transmitted between the Parties relating to this Agreement is retained in strict confidence by the receiving Party, which acquires no right, title, or interest in it.

9.2 This Clause 9 extends to the employees of both Parties and survives termination of this Agreement for any reason.

Clause 10

Termination for Cause

10.1 FoodCo may terminate this Agreement immediately, or on a shorter notice period FoodCo specifies, for cause, including material breach of Schedule 1, a food safety incident, a health authority closure order, or repeated non-compliance under Clause 6 of these Terms and Conditions, where such breach is either incapable of cure or is not cured within seven days of written notice.

10.2 Termination does not affect any accrued rights, outstanding payments, or obligations of either Party existing before the effective date of termination.

Clause 11

Aggregator Compliance and Personal Data

11.1 Where a Brand is listed on a third party aggregator platform, including Careem, Talabat, noon, or Deliveroo, the Client will comply with that platform's minimum service standards as communicated by FoodCo from time to time, including any minimum order acceptance rate and outlet availability threshold. Failure to meet these standards is a material breach subject to Clause 10 of these Terms and Conditions.

11.2 The Client will process any customer personal data received through an aggregator platform solely to fulfil an order, will not use it for marketing, research, or any other purpose, and will delete it in line with the retention period required by the relevant aggregator, providing written confirmation of deletion to FoodCo on request.

Clause 12

Precedence

12.1 These Terms and Conditions form part of the Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the Agreement and these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of the Agreement prevail.

12.2 Where a matter is addressed in these Terms and Conditions and not in the Agreement, these Terms and Conditions govern that matter.

Clause 13

Amendment and Versioning

13.1 FoodCo may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time, taking into account current market, operational, and regulatory conditions.

13.2 Any amendment is notified to the Client in writing (email sufficient) and takes effect on the date specified in that notice, which will not be less than fourteen days after the notice is sent unless a shorter period is required by law, by a regulator, or by an aggregator platform.

13.3 The Client's continued hosting of the Brands after the effective date of an amendment constitutes its acceptance of the amended Terms and Conditions. Where FoodCo requires re-acceptance, the Client will complete it through the electronic acceptance process before continuing to host the Brands.

13.4 This Clause 13 does not permit FoodCo to amend the fee stated in Clause 5.1 of the Agreement or the Brand ownership provisions in Clause 2.1 of the Agreement, which may be changed only by written agreement signed by both Parties.

13.5 Each version of these Terms and Conditions carries a version number and effective date. FoodCo maintains a dated archive of all published versions and provides the version applicable to the Client on request.

Clause 14

Electronic Acceptance and Record

14.1 The Client accepts these Terms and Conditions electronically by ticking the acceptance box presented by FoodCo. That acceptance constitutes agreement to be bound by them, and is valid and binding under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021.

14.2 The Client confirms that the person completing the electronic acceptance is authorised to bind the Client, and that the Client has had the opportunity to read these Terms and Conditions in full before accepting them.

14.3 FoodCo records, for each acceptance, the name and email address of the accepting person, the date and time of acceptance, the version accepted, and the text of that version. That record is evidence of the Client's acceptance.

14.4 The Client may at any time request from FoodCo a copy of these Terms and Conditions in force and a copy of its acceptance record.

Clause 15

General

15.1 Notices. Notices under these Terms and Conditions are given in writing to the email addresses stated in Schedule A to the Agreement, and are deemed received on the next business day after sending.

15.2 Severability. If a provision is found invalid or unenforceable under UAE law, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

15.3 Governing Law. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates as applied in the Emirate of Dubai, and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Dubai, UAE.

15.4 Language. Where these Terms and Conditions are published in both English and Arabic and there is any discrepancy between the two, the Arabic version prevails.

Schedule 1

Compliance Requirements

The Client warrants and undertakes to hold and maintain the following throughout the term of this Agreement. This schedule reflects standard UAE food business regulatory practice and does not replace a UAE-licensed review of the specific requirements applicable to the Client's emirate and premises.

  • A valid UAE trade license authorizing the specific food preparation, host kitchen, or cloud kitchen activity carried out at the premises.
  • A valid food safety or hygiene permit issued by the relevant Municipality or Food Control Department for the kitchen premises.
  • Valid health or food handler cards for all staff engaged in food handling, renewed as required by the relevant municipal authority.
  • A HACCP-based food safety management system, or the municipality-equivalent food safety certification.
  • A valid Civil Defense fire safety no objection certificate for the premises.
  • Compliance with applicable UAE food labeling and allergen disclosure requirements for all packaged menu items.
  • Halal certification or compliance, where the Brand or menu is marketed or positioned as Halal.
  • Maintenance of an acceptable municipal food safety inspection rating, with written notice to FoodCo within twenty four hours of any downgrade, violation notice, or closure order.
  • A valid, current pest control contract and inspection records for the premises.
  • Compliant grease trap and food waste disposal arrangements.
  • Public liability insurance and product or food liability insurance, at a minimum coverage level to be confirmed, with FoodCo and its affiliates named as additional insured, evidence of coverage provided to FoodCo on request.
  • Compliance with applicable UAE labor law for all kitchen staff, including valid work permits.