legal
Disclaimer
What Sweet Finder is and isn't responsible for — bakers, food safety, offers, the VIP commercial and liability.
1. Who we are and what we do
Sweet Finder (sweetfinders.com) is an independent online marketplace and directory that helps customers find local home bakers, cake makers and small dessert businesses, with a focus on the U.S. military community and their neighbours in Germany. Sweet Finder is not a bakery and does not make, sell, store, deliver or inspect any food. Every baker on Sweet Finder is an independent seller. When you order, the contract for the food is between you and the baker. Payments for food go directly to the baker, unless a page clearly says otherwise.
2. No military or government affiliation
Sweet Finder is a private business. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or acting for the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), any installation or garrison, or any German federal, state or local authority. Words such as “military community” only describe who we serve. Bakers who live or sell on a U.S. installation are responsible for any approval their installation requires for a home-based business, and for following installation access and sales rules.
3. Food safety, allergens and the law
Each baker is solely responsible for their own products, including food hygiene, ingredients, allergen and labelling information, freshness, storage, transport and delivery, and for meeting every legal requirement that applies to them — for example business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung), registration with the food control authority, food hygiene rules, taxes and insurance. Sweet Finder does not inspect kitchens, test food or verify permits, licences, certificates or claims such as “gluten-free”, “vegan”, “halal”, “kosher” or “nut-free”. If you have an allergy or intolerance, ask the baker directly before you order and do not rely only on a listing.
4. Listings, photos, prices and reviews
Shop pages, product descriptions, photos, prices, opening hours and availability are provided by the bakers. We try to keep the site accurate, but we do not guarantee that any listing is complete, correct or current. Reviews and ratings are the personal opinions of the people who wrote them, not the views of Sweet Finder.
5. Launch date, early bird and Founding Baker offers
Our planned community launch is 15 January 2027. Launch dates, the cities we open in, offers and features may change, and some features may be added after launch. Founding Baker and VIP memberships start the day the baker's shop goes live on Sweet Finder, not on the day of payment, and include exactly what the offer describes at the time of purchase. Product limits, renewal rules and prices are shown on each offer. Paid memberships are a marketing and listing service: Sweet Finder does not guarantee any number of visitors, customers, orders, sales, followers or income.
6. VIP Founding Baker package
The VIP package is limited to 50 bakers. Vendor passes are valid only at eligible Sweet Finder events in Germany, when such events are scheduled, and need advance booking subject to availability and event rules; they have no cash value. NFC signs ship to addresses in Germany only. Featured credits can be used during the first membership year once the shop is live. An NFC tap or QR scan depends on the visitor's phone and connection.
7. Sponsored promo commercial (VIP)
What you get: one short promotional video (about 30–60 seconds) about you and your bakes, produced by Sweet Finder, presented as “Sponsored by Sweet Finder” and ending with where customers can find you and a link back to your Sweet Finder page. We deliver ready-to-post files for Facebook, Instagram and other social media (for example vertical for Reels and Stories, and square or landscape for feed posts). Scheduling: filming is booked with you after your shop is live, in one session of up to 2 hours, at your kitchen, market stall or another agreed place in Germany. If you cancel or miss two booked shoots, or the shoot cannot be booked within 12 months of your shop going live for reasons on your side, this benefit ends. It has no cash value and cannot be exchanged or transferred. Delivery and changes: we aim to deliver within about 4 weeks of filming and include one round of small changes (for example text or a different clip). Sweet Finder decides the final edit, music and style. Music and other material we add are licensed for social media posting. What you are responsible for: everyone who appears on camera must agree to be filmed; you confirm you have their consent. What is shown — your kitchen, products, packaging, claims and any logos or designs — must be lawful and must not infringe anyone else's rights. We may decline to film anything unsafe, unlawful or offensive. Rights to the video: Sweet Finder owns the video. You get a free, non-exclusive, lasting licence to post it on your own social media accounts and your own website, as long as you keep the “Sponsored by Sweet Finder” credit and do not edit it to say anything untrue. Sweet Finder may use the video and short clips of it on its own website, social media and advertising to promote you and Sweet Finder. You can ask us at any time to stop using your image in new Sweet Finder posts; posts already published may stay online unless the law requires removal. Advertising labels and paid ads: the commercial is advertising. When you post it, label it as an ad or paid partnership where the platform or the law requires (for example “Anzeige” or “Werbung” in Germany, or Facebook and Instagram's paid partnership label). Paid ad spend (boosting) is not included and is your own choice and cost. Views, reach, followers and sales are not guaranteed. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms are not affiliated with Sweet Finder, and their own rules apply.
8. Gift packs, NFC cards and shipping
Thank-you gift packs and NFC cards ship to addresses in Germany only, are free extras with no cash value, and may vary in design. Shipping times are estimates.
9. Payments and third-party services
Membership payments are processed by Stripe. Sweet Finder never sees or stores your full card number. Links to social media, payment providers, maps and other websites lead to services we do not control; their terms and privacy policies apply, and we are not responsible for their content or availability.
10. Limitation of liability
Sweet Finder is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for injury to life, body or health, under the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) and where we have given a guarantee. For slight negligence, Sweet Finder is liable only for breach of an essential contractual obligation (an obligation whose fulfilment makes the contract possible and on which you may rely), and then only for the typical, foreseeable damage. Otherwise Sweet Finder is not liable for slight negligence. Sweet Finder is not liable for the products, conduct or statements of bakers, customers or other users. Nothing on this page limits your mandatory rights as a consumer.
11. No professional advice
Information on Sweet Finder — including tips about pricing, permits, taxes, food rules or marketing — is general information only and is not legal, tax, financial or food-safety advice. Please ask a qualified professional or the responsible authority about your own situation.
12. Changes and contact
We may update this disclaimer as Sweet Finder grows; the version on this page applies from the day it is published. German law applies, without limiting the mandatory consumer protection of the country where you live. Questions: hello@sweetfinders.com. Our provider details are in the Impressum.