Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how Lou Malnati's ("we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website at lou-malnatis.digital (the "Site"). This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

By continuing to browse and use our website, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree to our use of cookies, you should set your browser settings accordingly or stop using our Site.

This Cookie Policy covers our use of cookies in relation to:

• Online ordering and menu browsing
• Location services for delivery estimation
• User preferences and customization
• Website analytics and performance monitoring
• Marketing and advertising activities

2. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer, tablet, or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners about user behavior and preferences.

How Cookies Work

When you visit our website, we may place cookies on your device. These cookies contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive. Cookies allow us to recognize your device and remember information about your visit, such as your preferred language, location settings, and items in your shopping cart.

Types of Cookies by Duration

• Session Cookies: These cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser. They help us track your activity during a single browsing session.
• Persistent Cookies: These cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually. They remember your preferences across multiple visits.

Types of Cookies by Source

• First-Party Cookies: These cookies are set directly by our website and can only be read by us.
• Third-Party Cookies: These cookies are set by external services we use, such as Google Analytics or social media platforms.

3. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies for several important purposes that enhance your experience with our food service:

• Order Management: Track items in your cart, remember your delivery preferences, and process payments securely
• Location Services: Remember your delivery address and estimate delivery times accurately
• User Preferences: Store your dietary preferences, favorite menu items, and previous order history
• Performance Optimization: Monitor website speed and functionality to ensure smooth ordering experience
• Analytics: Understand which menu items are most popular and how customers navigate our site
• Marketing: Show relevant promotions and special offers based on your preferences
• Security: Protect against fraudulent activity and ensure secure transactions

4. Types of Cookies We Use

Below is a detailed breakdown of the specific cookies we use on our website, organized by category:

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for our website to function properly. Without them, you would not be able to place orders or use certain features of our site.

Cookie Name	Provider	Purpose	Type	Duration
PHPSESSID	Lou Malnati's	Maintains user session and shopping cart	Session	Browser session
csrf_token	Lou Malnati's	Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks	Session	Browser session
cart_contents	Lou Malnati's	Stores shopping cart items and quantities	Persistent	7 days
user_location	Lou Malnati's	Stores delivery location for order processing	Persistent	30 days
cookieConsent	Lou Malnati's	Records user's cookie consent preferences	Persistent	1 year

4.2 Performance/Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve functionality and user experience.

Cookie Name	Provider	Purpose	Type	Duration
_ga	Google Analytics	Distinguishes unique users and tracks website usage	Persistent	2 years
_gid	Google Analytics	Distinguishes unique users (short term)	Persistent	24 hours
_gat	Google Analytics	Throttles request rate to Analytics	Persistent	1 minute
_ga_[container-id]	Google Analytics 4	Collects data about website usage	Persistent	2 years
order_analytics	Lou Malnati's	Tracks order completion and menu item popularity	Persistent	90 days

4.3 Functionality Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences and settings.

Cookie Name	Provider	Purpose	Type	Duration
user_preferences	Lou Malnati's	Stores dietary preferences and allergies	Persistent	1 year
delivery_location	Lou Malnati's	Remembers preferred delivery address	Persistent	6 months
favorite_items	Lou Malnati's	Stores favorite menu items for quick reordering	Persistent	1 year
language_preference	Lou Malnati's	Remembers selected language setting	Persistent	1 year

4.4 Targeting/Marketing Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver advertisements and promotional content that are relevant to your interests.

Cookie Name	Provider	Purpose	Type	Duration
_fbp	Facebook	Facebook Pixel for ad targeting and conversion tracking	Persistent	3 months
_fbc	Facebook	Facebook click identifier for ad attribution	Persistent	3 months
ads_prefs	Lou Malnati's	Stores advertising preferences and interests	Persistent	6 months
promo_tracking	Lou Malnati's	Tracks promotional campaign effectiveness	Persistent	30 days

5. Third-Party Cookies

We work with trusted third-party services that may place their own cookies on your device when you use our website. These partners help us provide better service and analyze website performance.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. This helps us improve our menu presentation, ordering process, and overall user experience. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information such as:

• Which pages are visited most frequently
• How long visitors spend on different sections
• Which menu items are viewed most often
• Where visitors are located geographically

For more information about Google Analytics cookies, visit Google's Analytics Cookie Usage guide.

Facebook Pixel

We use Facebook Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and to show relevant ads to people who have visited our website. This helps us:

• Track conversions from Facebook ads
• Show ads for menu items you've viewed
• Create lookalike audiences based on our customers
• Optimize ad delivery for better results

You can control Facebook ads and data use in your Facebook Ad Preferences.

Other Advertising Partners

We may work with additional advertising networks and measurement companies. These partners may use cookies to:

• Deliver targeted advertisements across the web
• Measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns
• Provide analytics about ad performance
• Enable remarketing to previous website visitors

6. Cookie Duration

Different cookies have different lifespans, depending on their purpose:

Session Cookies

These cookies are deleted when you close your browser. They typically handle:

• Shopping cart contents during your visit
• Login status and security tokens
• Form data and navigation preferences

Persistent Cookies - Duration Table

Duration	Purpose	Examples
1 minute	Rate limiting and spam prevention	Google Analytics throttling
24 hours	Daily analytics and short-term tracking	Google Analytics user identification
7 days	Shopping cart persistence	Cart contents, recent orders
30 days	Location and promotional tracking	Delivery location, campaign tracking
3 months	Advertising and marketing	Facebook Pixel, ad preferences
6 months	User preferences and history	Delivery addresses, order history
1 year	Long-term preferences	Dietary preferences, language settings
2 years	Analytics and user tracking	Google Analytics user identification

7. How to Manage Cookies

You have several options for managing cookies on our website:

7.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Here are instructions for popular browsers:

7.2 Opt-Out Links

You can opt out of specific third-party cookies using these links:

• Google Analytics: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Facebook: Facebook Ad Preferences
• Network Advertising Initiative: NAI Opt-out Tool
• Digital Advertising Alliance: DAA Opt-out Tool

7.3 Our Cookie Consent Tool

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner at the bottom of the page. You can:

• Accept all cookies by clicking "Accept All"
• Reject non-essential cookies by clicking "Reject All"
• Customize your preferences by clicking "Customize"
• Change your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in our footer

Your preferences are saved and will be remembered for future visits. You can change these settings at any time.

8. Consequences of Disabling Cookies

While you can browse our website with cookies disabled, some features may not work properly:

Limited Functionality Without Cookies:

• Shopping Cart: Items won't stay in your cart between pages or visits
• User Accounts: You won't be able to log in or access your order history
• Preferences: We can't remember your delivery address, dietary restrictions, or favorite items
• Location Services: Delivery time estimates and location-based content won't work
• Personalization: You'll see generic content instead of personalized recommendations
• Security: Some security features may not function, potentially making your data less secure

Features That Will Still Work:

• Browsing our menu and restaurant information
• Reading about our food and services
• Contacting us through forms (though they may be less convenient)
• Finding our location and hours
• Accessing nutritional information

9. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal that you can set to indicate your preference not to be tracked across websites. Currently, there is no industry standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals.

Our Response to Do Not Track

At this time, our website does not respond to DNT browser signals. However, you can use the cookie management options described above to control tracking on our site.

How to Enable Do Not Track

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Send a "Do not track" request
• Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Send websites a "Do Not Track" signal
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Ask websites not to track me
• Edge: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Send "Do not track" requests

Even with DNT enabled, you should still use our cookie consent tool and browser settings to control tracking according to your preferences.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will notify you by:

• Posting a prominent notice on our website
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending an email notification to registered users (if applicable)
• Displaying a notification in your user account (if applicable)

Types of Changes We Might Make:

• Adding new cookie types or third-party services
• Changing cookie durations or purposes
• Updating browser instructions or opt-out links
• Clarifying existing practices or legal requirements
• Responding to user feedback or regulatory guidance

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

If you disagree with any changes, you can adjust your cookie settings or stop using our website.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please don't hesitate to contact us:

When Contacting Us, Please Include:

• Your name and contact information
• The specific cookie or tracking concern
• The browser and device you're using
• Any relevant error messages or issues you're experiencing
• Your preferred resolution or outcome

We strive to respond to all cookie-related inquiries within 2 business days. For urgent technical issues affecting your ability to place orders, please call us directly.

12. Additional Resources

For more information about cookies and online privacy, you may find these external resources helpful:

Educational Resources:

• All About Cookies: allaboutcookies.org - Comprehensive guide to cookies and privacy
• Federal Trade Commission: Online Security guidance
• Electronic Frontier Foundation: Privacy rights information

Browser Help Pages:

• Chrome Cookie Settings
• Firefox Cookie Information
• Safari Cookie Settings
• Microsoft Edge Cookie Management

Industry Opt-Out Tools:

• Network Advertising Initiative Opt-out
• Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-out
• European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance

Please note that these are external websites and we are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. We provide these links for your convenience and education only.