Arete Trade Co. (Pty) Ltd (“Arete Trade Co.”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website, contact us, or use our services.

By using our website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are

Arete Trade Co. is a strategic agricultural and commodity trade business that sources and supplies high-quality agricultural and commodity products locally and internationally. Our services include commodity sourcing, import and export facilitation, private label coffee supply, bulk commodity trading, supplier and buyer matching, and trade consulting.

Business Name: ARETE TRADE CO (PTY) LTD
Trading Name: Arete Trade Co.
Business Address: 152 Dallas Avenue, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria, Gauteng, 0010, South Africa

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information:

Information you provide directly

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Company name
• Job title
• Country or region
• Any information you include in enquiry forms, emails, or messages sent to us

Business and transaction-related information

• Product requirements
• Sourcing needs
• Order or trade preferences
• Logistics, import/export, and delivery details
• Supplier or buyer information you provide in the course of doing business

Information collected automatically
When you use our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, such as:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device type
• Operating system
• Pages visited
• Time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We may use your information to:

• Respond to enquiries and requests
• Provide our services
• Facilitate sourcing, trading, logistics, and consulting services
• Communicate with you about products, services, and transactions
• Prepare quotations, proposals, or trade-related documentation
• Improve our website, services, and user experience
• Maintain internal records
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
• Protect our business against fraud, risk, misuse, or unlawful activity

Because our website is intended to generate leads, build credibility, and make it easy for prospective clients to contact us, we may use submitted information to follow up on service enquiries and business opportunities.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable, we process personal information on one or more of the following grounds:

• Your consent
• The performance of a contract or steps taken before entering into a contract
• Compliance with a legal obligation
• Our legitimate business interests, provided your rights do not override those interests

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Ensure the website functions properly
• Improve website performance
• Understand how visitors use the website
• Support analytics and security

You can usually control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain website functionality.

Optional website note: If you use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, reCAPTCHA, live chat, or ad tracking, those should be specifically named here before publishing.

6. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

• Employees and authorised representatives
• Service providers who help us operate our website or business
• IT, hosting, email, analytics, and security providers
• Logistics, shipping, customs, or trade partners where necessary for service delivery
• Professional advisers such as accountants, auditors, or legal advisers
• Government authorities or regulators where required by law

We will only share personal information where reasonably necessary and subject to appropriate confidentiality and security measures.

7. International Transfers

Because we operate in South Africa and have international trade links, your information may be processed or transferred across borders when necessary for sourcing, supplier coordination, logistics, trade execution, or service support.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place and that your information remains protected in accordance with applicable law.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against:

• Loss
• Unauthorised access
• Misuse
• Alteration
• Disclosure
• Destruction

However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Fulfil the purpose for which it was collected
• Provide services
• Maintain business and legal records
• Resolve disputes
• Comply with legal, tax, accounting, and regulatory obligations

When personal information is no longer needed, we will take reasonable steps to delete, destroy, or de-identify it.

10. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Object to certain processing
• Request restriction of processing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority

To exercise your rights, please contact us using the details below.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of those third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies separately.

12. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are intended for business and commercial use and are not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us at:

Arete Trade Co. (Pty) Ltd
152 Dallas Avenue, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria, Gauteng, 0010, South Africa
Email: barco@ddmgroup.co.za
Phone: +27 79 488 1730

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the website after changes are posted means you accept the updated Privacy Policy.