Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information from customers who use our Services:

a) Information you provide directly:

• Email address, when you sign up for newsletters, event updates, or announcements.
• Phone number, when you sign up to receive text message updates or event reminders, and/or when you cast a vote for a Pizza Week Special via text message.
• Any other information you voluntarily submit (e.g., messages sent through a contact form).

Your phone number is the only personally identifiable information we collect in connection with voting. We do not collect your name, address, or payment information as part of the voting process.

b) Information collected automatically:

• Anonymous browsing and usage data (e.g., pages visited, time on site, device/browser type, general location inferred from IP address) collected through analytics tools.

We do not currently require customers to create accounts, and we do not collect payment information from customers (participating shop payment terms are governed separately under our Shop Participation Agreement).

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Send you NYC Pizza Week updates, event announcements, and promotional messages via email or text, if you've opted in.
• Record and count your vote for a Pizza Week Special, and help prevent duplicate voting from the same phone number.
• Notify you about voting windows, winning shops, or event logistics.
• Understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it.
• Respond to inquiries you send us.
• Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

Text Messages (SMS) and Voting

We use text messaging both for updates and to conduct voting during NYC Pizza Week.

Voting by text: When you vote for a Pizza Week Special by text message, we record your phone number to count your vote and to help prevent the same number from voting more than once. We use your phone number for this purpose only. Please note that our duplicate-vote prevention operates at the phone-number level and cannot prevent a single person from voting using multiple different phone numbers.

If you provide your phone number and opt in to receive text messages from NYC Pizza Week:

• You will only receive messages related to event updates, voting reminders, and voting confirmations.
• Message and data rates may apply.
• Message frequency may vary.
• You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. Reply HELP for assistance.

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party service providers, who may process your information on our behalf:

• Google Analytics (or similar analytics tools), to understand aggregate website traffic and usage patterns. Google may use cookies and similar technologies as part of this service.
• Beehiv (or similar email marketing platform), to send newsletters and promotional emails, and to manage unsubscribe requests.

These providers have their own privacy policies governing how they handle data. We encourage you to review them:

• Google Privacy Policy
• Beehiv Privacy Policy

We may add or change third-party service providers over time; this policy will be updated to reflect any material changes.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (such as those used by Google Analytics) to collect anonymous usage data and improve site performance. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some site functionality.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

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

• With service providers (like Google Analytics and Beehiv) who help us operate our Services, under confidentiality obligations.
• If required by law, subpoena, or legal process.
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of NYC Pizza Week, our participating shops, or the public.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, in which case we will notify you of any change in ownership or use of your information.

Data Retention

We retain your email address and phone number for as long as you remain subscribed to our communications, or until you request deletion. Anonymous analytics data may be retained in aggregate form indefinitely, as it cannot be used to identify you individually.

Your Choices and Rights

• Unsubscribe from email: every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link.
• Opt out of texts: reply STOP to any text message.
• Request access or deletion: you can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to delete it, by emailing [email protected].
• New York residents: New York's SHIELD Act requires us to maintain reasonable safeguards for personal information, which we do as described in Section 9 below.
• Other state residents (e.g., California): depending on your state of residence, you may have additional rights to know what data is collected about you, request deletion, or opt out of certain data sharing. Contact us at the email above to make a request, and we will honor applicable rights regardless of where you live.

Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse, including limiting who has access to customer data and using reputable third-party providers for email and analytics. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

If a data breach affecting your personal information occurs, we will notify you and any relevant authorities as required by applicable law, including New York's SHIELD Act.

Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us at [email protected].

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date above and, where appropriate, notify you via email or a notice on our website.

Contact Us

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