TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Updated JULY 2023

“Term” relates to a 1-year period of Membership effective from the start of membership. 

“Renewal” is the period of Membership for the upcoming Term, starting on each member's anniversary date.

Membership includes access to a selection of Member Benefits but does not include liability insurance under the Chef Insurance program.  Membership can start at any time and is for a period of one (1) year from the start date of the Membership.

To apply:

Prospective members must complete and submit a membership application form for approval.

Chef Insurance is a member benefit accessible only through The Chef Alliance.  Chef Insurance coverage is not guaranteed, even to members; members must apply and be approved in order to access it.  Decisions regarding Chef Insurance are solely at the discretion of the insurer, not The Chef Alliance, and can take several days to process.  

Chef Insurance has 3 Tiers, and each Tier can have $1,000,000, $2,000,000 or $5,000,000 insurance coverage.

Tier 1 Plans are for food businesses with gross annual sales up to $100,000 that sell food or culinary services directly to consumers or businesses for direct consumption, not for resale.  Food products and services covered include those provided in private homes, shared commercial kitchens, at farmers markets, through the Member's own website or social media, through food delivery apps, at local events and trade shows etc. 

Tier 2 Plans are for food businesses with gross annual sales up to $200,000 that sell food or culinary services directly to consumers or businesses for direct consumption not for resale.  Food products and services covered include those provided in private homes, shared commercial kitchens, at farmers markets, through the Member's own website or social media, through food delivery apps, at local events and trade shows etc.

Tier 3 Plans are for food businesses with gross annual sales up to $200,000 that sell food to businesses for resale and also includes those food products and culinary services covered under Tier 1 and 2 (see above). 

To apply:

prospective members must first complete and submit an application, a portion of which will be sent to the insurer to be approved for inclusion under the Chef Insurance program. 

Applications need a minimum of 5 business day notice for processing; it is the prospective member’s or renewing member’s responsibility to allow adequate time for applications to be processed and approved and for certificates of insurance to be issued. Applications will not be processed on weekends or holidays.

Prospective and current Members must send all Membership documentation by email.  Application forms may be provided:

• with an electronic signature or  by typing their name in full in the signature box, then saving the document, attaching it to an email and submitting it along with any other required/relevant documents to a Success Manager. 
• by printing the document, completing it, scanning it and attaching it to an email and submitting it along with any other required/relevant documents to a Success Manager. 

The Chef Alliance will treat documents submitted with electronic signatures or name typed out and scanned documents as being originally signed documents; these will have the same legal effect as if it had been signed with an original, handwritten signature. 

Pricing for Membership fees, insurance and additional options are quoted in CAD$.  All fees are subject to applicable taxes. Rates may change without notice; updates will be sent by member newsletter; it is the responsibility of ALL Members to ensure that they are subscribed to newsletters for the duration of their Membership; unsubscribing from Member newsletters is against the Terms and Conditions of Membership and will not be accepted by The Chef Alliance as an excuse or defence for contradicting the terms of membership or non-payment of fees and membership instalments.

Membership fees include access to member benefits; Chef Insurance is an additional cost, not included in the Membership fees.

Fees may be paid by e-transfer directly to The Chef Alliance, or may be financed through a third-party financing company, allowing members to spread their payment in small increments over many months.

Members may upgrade their Chef Insurance plan at any time throughout the Term. Requested changes must be made in writing to a Success Manager who will provide more details.  A minimum of 5 business days is requested; The Chef Alliance is not responsible in any way for delays in processing by the insurer.

Downgrading Chef Insurance cannot occur during the Term.  

Refunds will not be provided for any portion of the Membership or member benefits not used, or as a result of:

• a cancellation of Membership by the Member
• termination of Membership by The Chef Alliance for any reason, including for providing services that fall outside the Chef Insurance program or for conduct contrary to our Code of Conduct.

Members are responsible for any remaining account balances to the end of the Term, and any fees and interest that may accrue. 

Membership in The Chef Alliance includes a range of benefits which are subject to change without notice.

The Chef Alliance never sells Members' personal information to third parties; however, as a Member, you authorise The Chef Alliance to release only the relevant contact information to our Member Benefit Partners ("Partners") for members to access the member benefits included in their Membership.

Questions relating to the Program should be emailed to a Success Manager.

The Chef Alliance is not an insurance company. We work with the insurance industry who have created an exclusive program for Members of The Chef Alliance ("Chef Insurance"). This program is not available to non-members; members must complete an application form and be approved by the insurer to access the low rates.

Chef Insurance covers general business operations. It is considered comprehensive business insurance, though it does not cover all risks that a business may face. It provides coverage to a business for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage caused by your business operations, products, or injury that occurs on the business's premises. Members acknowledge that the wording of the Policy will supersede information provided by a Success Manager or on websites operated by The Chef Alliance. 

Chef Insurance includes the following services in Canada:

• Personal and Private Chef services for events up to 25 people
• Catering services up to 25 people
• Cooking lessons (in person and virtually) for up to 25 people
• artisan or small batches of food products sold directly by the Member to consumers or businesses for direct consumption (Tier 1 or 2) or to businesses for resale, including restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, convenience stores, distributors, wholesalers etc. (Tier 3)
• meal prep, meal kit and prepared meal services selling directly to consumers, including through food delivery apps such as Skip-The-Dishes, Uber Eats etc. and home cooks serving the food sharing industry
• menu planning and recipe research and writing services... and many others

Services for events with 26 to 200 guests/attendees may only be covered with the addition of Large Event Coverage ("LEC"). This is an extra cost and is billed on a "per event" basis up to a maximum of 25 events per year.

The Chef Insurance program has limitations. Members acknowledge that they have read and understood the provisions and limitations of the policy. Members accept responsibility to adhere to the limitations of the Program. Members understand that claims for products, services or sales that fall outside the Program may not be honoured. Members acknowledge that if they operate their business from home, rent or own a business location or use their vehicle for business purposes that they must abide by all laws and by-laws relating to the business, including but not limited to those issued by insurance providers, health departments, zoning etc. and should also consult an independent insurance agent to determine if any other insurance products are necessary. Members who sell to retailers, restaurants or other third-party vendors acknowledge that this is ONLY included in our Tier 3 Plans and outside of these plans, insurance claims will not be honoured; Members must consult an independent insurance agent to determine if any other insurance products are necessary. For example, Chef Insurance does not cover:

• the purchase or the sale of alcohol or cannabis to clients and the pouring of alcohol at events or the inclusion of cannabis in food or 'edibles' served to clients (The inclusion of alcohol as an ingredient is acceptable provided that the alcohol has been 'burned off'. The inclusion of cannabis in food or drink products as part of a demonstration cooking lesson provided that the end products are not consumed)
• the sale of food products in restaurants, retail stores or other third-party sales, unless you have a Tier 3 plan
• sales for  private events or cooking classes with over 25 people unless LEC has been added
• international sales or services, including in the USA
• food consulting or event planning businesses etc. that require errors and omissions (E&O) insurance; E&O coverage is not included in the Chef Insurance program
• businesses with gross annual sales over CAD $100,000 for Members with Tier 1 Plans, or over CAD $200,000 for Tier 2 and 3 Plans.

For Members and Supplemental Members to access the Portal, personal information may be required to ensure that each profile is unique. The Chef Alliance is not responsible for Members not being able to access the Portal if the required information is not provided. Membership Benefits are subject to change without notice.  Members can access links to Partners, discount codes etc. through the Portal.

RC will be provided with the relevant contact information of Members and Supplemental Members so that they can be provided with access to RC's member benefits. Membership Benefits of RC are subject to change without notice.  

I personally accept this Code of Conduct and will support and promote these principles equally to any group with which I am affiliated, or which represents my business and the foodservice industry.

As a Member, I will strive to put my customers and clients as my top priority and will operate my foodservice business with all appropriate licensing, adhering to applicable laws regarding health and safety standards and maintaining liability insurance.

I will strive to take my business along a path of excellence and maintain the highest level of professionalism and decorum in all communications with my customers and clients, suppliers and industry peers and professionals, giving thoughtful regard to the reputation and dignity of The Chef Alliance of which I am a Member.

As a Member, I will respect the privacy of my customers and clients and I will never sell or share my their personal information without their express and explicit permission.

As a Member, I will maintain the highest regard and care for the health, property and safety of my customers, clients, suppliers and other industry contacts and will endeavour not to engage in any activity that will adversely affect them without their knowledge and consent.

As a Member, I will strive to expand and advance my knowledge of food, food processes and the foodservice industry for the benefit of my business, my customers and clients, The Chef Alliance and the foodservice industry as a whole.