Cookie Policy
Learn how Lou Malnati's uses cookies to enhance your dining experience and improve our services.
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Lou Malnati's ("we," "us," or "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website lou-malnatis.world (the "Site"). This policy is designed to help you understand what cookies are, how we use them, and the choices you have regarding their use.
By using our Site, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with this Cookie Policy. This policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy, which provides additional information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.
We are committed to being transparent about our data collection practices and giving you control over your personal information, including the use of cookies on our Site.
2. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide information to website owners, and enhance user experience.
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. They help us recognize you when you return to our Site and remember your preferences and actions.
Types of Cookies by Duration
- Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. They help us remember you as you navigate between pages during a single session.
- Persistent Cookies: These remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They help us recognize you when you return to our Site.
Types of Cookies by Source
- First-Party Cookies: These are set directly by our website and can only be read by us.
- Third-Party Cookies: These are set by external services that we use, such as analytics providers or advertising networks.
3. Why We Use Cookies
We use cookies for several important reasons that benefit both our restaurant operations and your dining experience:
Essential Website Functionality
- Maintain your session while browsing
- Remember items in your cart
- Enable secure login functionality
- Process online orders
Performance Improvement
- Analyze website traffic patterns
- Understand popular menu items
- Optimize page loading speeds
- Monitor system performance
User Experience Personalization
- Remember your location preferences
- Save your delivery information
- Customize menu recommendations
- Remember language and accessibility settings
Marketing and Advertising
- Show relevant promotions
- Track advertising effectiveness
- Provide personalized offers
- Enable social media features
4. Types of Cookies We Use
4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for our website to function properly. They cannot be disabled in our systems.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | Lou Malnati's | Maintains user session state | Session | Browser session |
| cart_session | Lou Malnati's | Remembers items in shopping cart | Persistent | 30 days |
| security_token | Lou Malnati's | Prevents cross-site request forgery | Session | Browser session |
| cookieConsent | Lou Malnati's | Stores your cookie preferences | Persistent | 1 year |
| location_pref | Lou Malnati's | Remembers your delivery location | Persistent | 90 days |
4.2 Performance/Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | Persistent | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | Persistent | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate | Persistent | 1 minute |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | Stores session information | Persistent | 2 years |
| menu_analytics | Lou Malnati's | Tracks popular menu items | Persistent | 6 months |
4.3 Functionality Cookies
These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced features.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| user_preferences | Lou Malnati's | Stores language and display preferences | Persistent | 1 year |
| delivery_info | Lou Malnati's | Remembers delivery address | Persistent | 6 months |
| order_history | Lou Malnati's | Enables quick reordering | Persistent | 2 years |
| accessibility | Lou Malnati's | Saves accessibility settings | Persistent | 1 year |
4.4 Targeting/Marketing Cookies
These cookies are used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Facebook Pixel tracking | Persistent | 3 months | |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads | Conversion tracking | Persistent | 90 days |
| promo_tracking | Lou Malnati's | Tracks promotion effectiveness | Persistent | 30 days |
| referral_source | Lou Malnati's | Identifies traffic sources | Persistent | 7 days |
5. Third-Party Cookies
We use several third-party services that may place cookies on your device. These services help us provide better functionality and understand our audience.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and user behavior. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about how visitors use our site.
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
Facebook Pixel
We use Facebook Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our advertising and to show you relevant ads on Facebook and Instagram.
Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
Opt-out: Facebook Ad Preferences
Google Ads
We use Google Ads for online advertising and conversion tracking to measure the success of our marketing campaigns.
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Opt-out: Google Ads Settings
6. Cookie Duration
Different cookies have different lifespans. Here's how long our cookies typically last:
Session Cookies
These cookies are deleted when you close your browser:
- PHPSESSID
- security_token
- temp_cart
Persistent Cookies
These cookies remain for specific periods:
- 1-7 days: Short-term tracking, referral sources
- 1-3 months: Cart persistence, promotional tracking
- 6-12 months: User preferences, delivery info
- 2+ years: Analytics data, order history
7. How to Manage Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies on our website. You can control cookies through your browser settings, use our cookie consent tool, or opt out of specific services.
7.1 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Here are instructions for popular browsers:
Google Chrome
- Click the three dots menu in the top-right corner
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Privacy and security" in the left sidebar
- Choose "Cookies and other site data"
- Select your preferred cookie setting
- To delete existing cookies, click "See all cookies and site data"
Mozilla Firefox
- Click the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top-right
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Privacy & Security" in the left panel
- Under "Cookies and Site Data," choose your settings
- Click "Manage Data" to delete specific cookies
Safari
- Click "Safari" in the menu bar
- Select "Preferences"
- Click the "Privacy" tab
- Choose your cookie blocking preferences
- Click "Manage Website Data" to remove stored cookies
Microsoft Edge
- Click the three dots menu in the top-right
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Cookies and site permissions" in the left panel
- Choose "Cookies and site data"
- Select your preferred settings
- Use "See all cookies and site data" to manage individual cookies
7.2 Opt-Out Links
You can opt out of specific tracking services:
- Google Analytics: Install Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on
- Facebook Ads: Facebook Ad Preferences
- Google Ads: Google Ads Settings
- Network Advertising Initiative: NAI Opt-out Tool
7.3 Our Cookie Consent Tool
When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:
- Accept All: Allow all cookies for the best experience
- Customize: Choose which types of cookies to allow
- Reject All: Only allow essential cookies (may limit functionality)
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer or clicking here.
8. Consequences of Disabling Cookies
If you choose to disable cookies, you may experience the following limitations:
Essential Functionality Lost
- Unable to maintain items in shopping cart
- Cannot stay logged in between pages
- Online ordering may not work properly
- Security features may be compromised
- Location preferences not saved
Reduced User Experience
- No personalized menu recommendations
- Repeated requests for location information
- Loss of accessibility settings
- No quick reordering from history
- Generic, non-targeted promotions
We recommend allowing at least essential cookies to ensure basic website functionality. You can always customize your preferences to block non-essential cookies while maintaining core features.
9. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that sends a signal to websites requesting not to track users. Currently, there is no standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals.
Our current approach to DNT signals:
- We recognize and respect DNT signals from your browser
- When DNT is enabled, we limit non-essential tracking
- Essential cookies for website functionality will still be used
- We encourage using our cookie consent tool for more granular control
How to Enable Do Not Track
To enable DNT in your browser:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Send a "Do Not Track" request
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Send websites a "Do Not Track" signal
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Website tracking: Ask websites not to track me
- Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Send "Do Not Track" requests
10. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.
How We Notify You of Changes
- Post the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
- Notify you through our website banner or popup
- Send email notifications for significant changes (if you're subscribed)
- Update our cookie consent tool to reflect new options
Your Continued Use
Your continued use of our website after we post any modifications to this Cookie Policy will constitute your acceptance of the revised policy. If you do not agree to the modified policy, please discontinue your use of our website.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and protect your privacy.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Contact Us12. More Information
For additional information about cookies and online privacy, we recommend visiting these resources:
Educational Resources
- All About Cookies - Comprehensive cookie information
- Cookiepedia - Cookie encyclopedia
- Your Online Choices - Digital advertising alliance
Browser Help Pages
Please also review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for complete information about your rights and our data practices.