Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 1 August 2026 · Electronic record under the Information Technology Act, 2000

Part A — Platform Terms of Use (Customers & All Users)

1. Introduction & acceptance

These Terms of Use (the “Terms”) govern your use of the Zestome website and the Zestome applications for mobile and handheld devices (together, the “Platform”). Please read these Terms carefully. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform and uninstall the App. By installing, downloading, registering on, or using the Platform, you contract with Zestome and accept these Terms and other Zestome policies (including the Privacy Policy and Refund & Cancellation Policy), as amended from time to time.

For these Terms, “you”, “user” or “User” means any natural or legal person who accesses or uses the Platform. “Zestome”, “we”, “us” or “our” means the operator of the Zestome Platform (legal entity and registered office: Qeotek LLP, Noida, India). “Home Cook”, “Cook” or “Seller” means an approved individual home cook listing food on the Platform. “Buyer” or “Customer” means a user placing Orders for food listed by Home Cooks.

2. What Zestome is

Zestome is a marketplace that enables transactions between participating Home Cooks and Buyers for prepared food and related home-kitchen offerings (“Platform Services”). Our goal is “Feed what you eat” — food from just-home kitchens within societies and communities.

• We partner only with talented home cooks. Restaurants and cloud kitchens are not permitted to onboard.
• The Platform is designed around a 0% commission model for Home Cooks (subject to any payment gateway / statutory charges disclosed on the Platform).
• Fulfilment is intended to reduce dependency on third-party delivery fleets: Buyers may pick up Orders, or Home Cooks may deliver / drop Orders fresh within societies or communities, as listed for each batch.

Zestome acts as an intermediary / facilitator. We do not manufacture, cook, own, or take title to food listed by Home Cooks. The contract for sale of food is primarily between the Home Cook and the Buyer.

3. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms and other policies by posting updates on the Platform and notifying you where appropriate. You are responsible for reviewing updates. Continued use after changes are posted constitutes acceptance. While you comply with these Terms, Zestome grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited privilege to access and use the Platform.

4. Marketplace role & disclaimers

Commercial terms (price, taxes, packaging, fulfilment mode — pickup or cook-drop — timing, warranties relating to food, and after-sales handling) are offered and agreed between Buyers and Home Cooks. Zestome does not control or dictate those terms, though we may provide support for order flow, payments collection/remittance, and customer support under separate arrangements with Home Cooks.

• Prices are set by Home Cooks. Zestome does not determine menu pricing.
• We do not warrant item-specifics such as legal title, creditworthiness, or identity of any Home Cook. Independently verify and use your judgement.
• We do not warrant quality, value, taste, allergen safety, or salability of food listed, and do not endorse any particular Cook.
• We are not responsible for non-performance or breach of contracts between Buyers and Home Cooks, or for delays, unavailability, or stock-outs.
• At no time does Zestome take possession or title of products offered by Home Cooks merely by facilitating the Order on the Platform.
• Complaints about food quality or efficacy should be raised via the Platform; we will notify the Home Cook and assist with information needed for resolution. The Home Cook remains primarily liable for redressing such complaints.

There may be risks in dealing with underage persons or people acting under false pretences. Use caution.

5. Acceptable use

You agree that your use of the Platform shall be strictly governed by the following principles. You shall not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information which:

• belongs to another person and to which you do not have any right;
• is grossly harmful, harassing, blasphemous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, libellous, invasive of privacy, hateful, racially or ethnically objectionable, relating to money laundering or gambling, or otherwise unlawful;
• is misleading, misrepresentative, or patently offensive to the online community;
• harasses or advocates harassment of another person;
• involves junk mail, chain letters, or spamming;
• promotes illegal activities or abusive, threatening, or defamatory conduct;
• infringes any third party’s intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights;
• promotes unauthorised copies of copyrighted works or provides pirated software/music;
• exploits people sexually or violently, or solicits personal information inappropriately;
• provides instructional information about illegal activities or creation of malware;
• tries to gain unauthorised access to the Platform, accounts, or systems;
• engages in unauthorised commercial activity, advertising, or pyramid schemes without our prior written consent;
• interferes with another user’s enjoyment of the Platform;
• harms minors in any way;
• violates any law for the time being in force;
• impersonates another person;
• contains viruses, trojans, worms, or other harmful code;
• threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order;
• is false, inaccurate or misleading; or
• offers or trades in items prohibited or restricted under applicable law.

You shall not use deep-links, scrapers, robots, spiders or similar means to copy or circumvent the Platform; attempt unauthorised access by hacking or password mining; probe or breach security measures; reverse look-up other users’ information; make defamatory statements about Zestome or Home Cooks; impose unreasonable load on infrastructure; forge headers; or use the Platform for unlawful purposes.

You shall comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000, applicable Indian laws (including GST and tax laws), and shall grant Zestome a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, sub-licensable licence to use information you supply, solely in accordance with these Terms and the Privacy Policy.

You remain solely responsible for content you post. We may remove content that violates law or these Terms. We may disclose information to law enforcement when required by law or to investigate suspected illegal activity.

6. Account registration

• You may create a Zestome Account by providing registration data (including phone OTP) or linking permitted third-party accounts where offered.
• Membership is personal and non-transferable. Only one account per user is permitted; we may suspend duplicate accounts.
• Provide accurate, current information and keep it updated.
• We may suspend or terminate accounts for inaccurate data, legal risk, or breach of policies.
• Safeguard your credentials. You are responsible for activity under your account and must notify us of unauthorised use.
• Purchases are for personal consumption, not for resale as an agent, unless expressly permitted.

7. Orders & financial terms

Buyers place Orders against Home Cook listings (including delivery date/time, last order / “accept order before” window, fulfilment type — pickup or cook drop — and quantity). Acceptance and fulfilment are by the Home Cook subject to listing availability and these Terms.

• Payments on the Platform shall be in Indian Rupees via approved methods (UPI, cards, net banking, wallets, or other RBI-approved methods shown at checkout).
• Zestome’s payment facility is a facilitator using authorised banking / payment gateway infrastructure — not a banking or fiduciary service.
• Where we collect payment on behalf of a Home Cook, remittance to the Cook is handled per Platform payout rules. Do not pay Home Cooks offline for Platform Orders unless we expressly instruct otherwise.
• Applicable taxes on the bill are determined and borne as per law by the responsible party (typically the Home Cook for food supply). Zestome is not responsible for incorrect tax treatment by a Cook.
• Displayed prices may occasionally be incorrect due to technical or listing errors; we or the Cook may cancel such Orders.
• Home Cooks alone are responsible for warranties/guarantees relating to food sold.

8. Fulfilment (pickup & cook drop)

Zestome facilitates community-first fulfilment. Orders may be marked for customer pickup or Home Cook drop/delivery within the serviceable society/community radius shown on the listing. We do not operate as a traditional third-party delivery aggregator; where a Cook delivers, that fulfilment is between Cook and Buyer.

• Quoted times are estimates and may vary.
• Provide accurate address, landmark, and authorisation to receive the Order. Failure attributable to Buyer may result in deemed delivery without refund (see Refund Policy).
• Our (and the Cook’s) fulfilment liability generally ends on successful handover/pickup, subject to applicable product liability of the Cook.
• If fulfilment is outside the Cook’s stated community zone, the Order may be cancelled.

9. Cancellations & refunds

Cancellation and refunds are governed by the Refund & Cancellation Policy.

10. Platform liability limits (Buyers)

You agree Zestome is not responsible for:

• taste, dietary suitability, or Home Cook services not meeting expectations;
• menu item availability changes;
• incorrect Orders prepared by Cooks; or
• product liability of goods provided by Cooks.

Menu and pricing on the Platform are based on Cook-provided information. Use of the Platform is at your own risk. Services are available during Cook working / listing windows only.

11. Offers & coupons

Platform or Cook offers (including coupons) are subject to additional terms, validity, and city/Cook eligibility. Offers may change, may not combine with other promotions, cannot be exchanged for cash unless stated, and may be voided without notice for misuse.

12. Eligibility

Persons incompetent to contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872 (including minors) may not use the Platform. Only individuals 18+ may use the Services. If under 18, a parent/guardian must agree to these Terms and the Privacy Policy.

13. Communications

By providing your details, you consent to transactional and (where permitted) promotional communications via call, SMS, WhatsApp, email, or in-app notices. You may opt out of promotional messages as described in the Privacy Policy; administrative/legal notices may still be sent.

14. Representations

You represent that registration information is truthful; use is personal; you will not discriminate against Cooks or Buyers on prohibited grounds; and you will not upload unlawful, harmful, or infringing content.

15. Mobile operators

If accessed via Apple App Store, Google Play, or similar, the Platform is not affiliated with or endorsed by those Operators. These Terms are between you and Zestome. Operators are third-party beneficiaries entitled to enforce applicable store terms.

16. Intellectual property

Zestome owns or licenses the Platform’s IP (brand, UI, flows, software, and content excluding User Content). The word mark “Zestome”, logo, and variants are protected. Do not copy, attack, or register confusingly similar marks. Report IP concerns to admin@zestome.co.in.

17. Privacy

We process information as described in our Privacy Policy.

18. Severability, assignment, governing law

If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder continues in force. You may not assign these Terms without our consent. These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Courts at Noida, India shall have jurisdiction over disputes relating to the Platform, subject to applicable law.

19. IP notice & take-down

Rights owners may report infringing listings. Only the IP owner (or authorised representative) should file a formal notice. Zestome cannot verify every Cook’s right to list items but will act on valid notices.

20. Contact & grievance officer

Questions: admin@zestome.co.in

Part B — Home Cook / Seller Terms

These Seller Terms form part of the Zestome Terms & Conditions. By registering or listing as a Home Cook on the Platform, you accept Part A and Part B. There is no separate Seller Terms page.

B1. Definitions (Seller context)

• Supplier / Home Cook / Seller: you, as an approved home cook using Cook tools on the Platform to list and fulfil Orders.
• Content / Your Content: reviews, images, menus, profile data, and other materials you upload.
• Zestome Content: Platform design, code, ratings aggregates, and materials created by Zestome.

B2. When these Seller Terms bind you

These terms apply when you install the Cook app / access Cook features, complete onboarding, or list dishes. The agreement is effective from download/access or from the date terms are updated. If you do not accept them, do not use Cook features. Continued use after updates means acceptance.

B3. Eligibility & onboarding (home cooks only)

• Only genuine home cooks may onboard. Restaurants, cloud kitchens, and commercial F&B brands are prohibited.
• You must complete profile requirements (including documents, FSSAI / registrations as applicable, and kitchen/hygiene information requested) and obtain admin approval before listing.
• We may reject, suspend, or revoke approval for misrepresentation, quality issues, unethical conduct, or policy breaches.
• You must register an account; services are not available without registration and approval where required.

B4. Listings & order flow

• Customers place Orders against your active listings (dish, quantity, delivery/pickup window, accept-order-before deadline, fulfilment type).
• Order confirmation in the Cook app / communications is treated as final once accepted/processed per Platform rules.
• Listings may be batch-based (made-to-order for a delivery window). You must prepare within stated lead times and mark ready for pickup or complete cook-drop as selected.
• You set prices; Zestome’s model is 0% commission on listed sales (payment gateway fees / taxes / penalties may still apply as disclosed).

B5. Commercial / payout terms

• Payouts are processed on the Platform’s payout cycle (for example weekly or as shown in the Cook payouts screen), not necessarily per individual Order in real time.
• Zestome is not liable for delays caused by banks, payment partners, or incomplete KYC/bank details.
• Penalties, cancellations, refunds, chargebacks, and adjustments under the Refund Policy may be deducted from payouts.
• Zestome may issue payment summaries / receipts listing Orders, amounts, and adjustments for the payout period.

B6. Offers

• Platform-led offers and Cook-funded offers may run from time to time.
• Unless stated otherwise, product discounts you configure are borne by you.
• Zestome may run marketing campaigns; participation and funding rules will be disclosed when offers are created.

B7. Food quality, safety & “Feed what you eat”

• Prepare fresh, home-style food. Prefer reliable ingredient sources; avoid unsafe practices.
• Do not misrepresent dishes, allergens, veg/non-veg status, or quantity.
• You are solely liable for food safety, quality, quantity, packaging hygiene, and legal compliance (including FSSAI and local laws).
• Zestome may sample, review, or delist dishes that fail quality, rating, or policy standards (including limits on repetitive menus in certain categories where Platform rules require variety).
• Verified customer quality complaints may result in replacement cost or Order value being deducted from your payout, and/or listing suspension.

B8. Fulfilment duties

• Honour pickup windows and cook-drop commitments within the society/community radius you service.
• Communicate delays promptly via the Platform.
• Repeated no-shows, lethargy toward Orders, or refusal without valid reason may lead to suspension or termination.

B9. Content, photos & IP

• Do not upload infringing recipes, images, or logos.
• Photos and materials published on Zestome may be used by Zestome to operate and promote the Platform; watermarked copies may be shared with you for social use where provided.
• You grant Zestome a licence to use Your Content for Platform operation, marketing of your listings, and quality processes.

B10. Confidentiality

Keep customer information confidential during and after engagement. Do not sell or misuse Buyer data for off-platform solicitation. Breach may result in termination and legal action.

B11. Indemnity

You shall indemnify and hold harmless Zestome, its affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees from losses arising from third-party claims due to your acts/omissions, false information, or the quality/usefulness of your food or services.

B12. Disclaimer (Seller information)

Zestome is not liable for claims arising from misinterpretation of your information where what we display matches what you (or your authorised representative) provided.

B13. Relationship

• Nothing creates a joint venture, employment, or agency. You cannot bind Zestome.
• You may not assign rights/obligations without written consent.
• Force majeure events may excuse delayed performance.
• Zestome is not obliged to extend credit to Sellers.

B14. Non-disparagement & confidentiality of operations

Do not take actions intended to harm Zestome’s reputation or create unfavourable publicity. Treat onboarding materials, handbooks, and non-public Platform processes as confidential.

B15. Exit & termination

• Either party may terminate on written notice of at least 30 days, unless a shorter period is required for safety, fraud, or legal breach.
• Mutual consent termination is permitted.
• After account deletion we may anonymise data except where retention is required for law, disputes, or chargebacks.
• Zestome may terminate sooner for quality failure, policy breach, inactivity toward Orders, or misrepresentation of home-cook status.
• On exit, fulfil already-accepted Orders where reasonably possible. Abrupt abandonment may lead to deductions or claims for onboarding/operational loss as permitted by law and disclosed policies.
• Zestome may continue to use previously published listing images on the Platform after termination.

B16. Entire agreement (Seller)

Part A, Part B, the Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, and any onboarding / empanelment acknowledgements form the Contract regarding your selling on Zestome and supersede prior understandings on that subject.

Operated by Qeotek LLP, Noida, India.