Merchant standards & food safety policy

This page sets out what we expect from merchants selling on Chop Awoof, and what we do — and don't — check before and after a merchant joins.

What we expect from every merchant

Food safety. Every item listed must be safe and fit for human consumption at the time of pickup. Spoiled, expired, contaminated or otherwise unsafe food must never be listed or supplied, discount or not — a low price is never a reason to sell food that shouldn't be sold.
Accurate listings. Descriptions, photos, prices, discounts, categories and quantities must be accurate. Photos may be illustrative for a Mystery Bag, but the category, minimum value, possible contents, exclusions and allergens stated must be true.
Storage and handling. Food must be stored and handled safely until collection, consistent with ordinary food-hygiene practice and any applicable Nigerian food-safety law.
Allergens and ingredients. Known allergens must be disclosed on the listing.
Fulfilment. Confirmed orders must be honoured and ready during the stated pickup window. If something changes (an item sells out, the store has to close), the order should be rejected or cancelled promptly, not left unfulfilled.
Complying with the law. Merchants are independent businesses and are responsible for their own compliance with applicable Nigerian law, including food-safety, business-registration and tax obligations.

How we onboard merchants today

Chop Awoof does not currently operate open, self-serve merchant signup. New merchants are onboarded with the assistance of a Chop Awoof representative, which may include a visit to the business's premises as part of our own commercial risk assessment. We review the business's details, a photo of the storefront, and — where the merchant has one — supporting documents such as a business registration certificate or permit.

We want to be direct about what this is and isn't: this process helps us form a commercial judgement about whether to list a merchant. It is not a food-safety inspection, a government certification, or an independent audit, and we do not claim that every merchant on Chop Awoof is licensed, government-certified, or independently inspected. Many food businesses in Nigeria operate informally, and our review reflects that reality rather than pretending otherwise. Where a merchant holds formal registration or permits, we note that; where they don't, our assessment rests on what our representative can reasonably observe and the merchant's own commitments under these standards.

Ongoing responsibility

Being listed on Chop Awoof is not a one-time check. Merchants must continue to meet these standards for as long as they sell on the platform. We may ask a merchant to demonstrate continued compliance, and we take reports of unsafe or misleading listings seriously.

What happens if standards aren't met

Depending on severity, we may pause a merchant's ability to publish new offers, restrict what they can list, suspend their account, or end our relationship with them — including for unsafe or expired food, prohibited items, misleading listings or pricing, repeatedly failing to fulfil confirmed orders, or fraud. We will cooperate with a legitimate investigation by a Nigerian regulatory authority if one arises.

Reporting a concern

If you believe a merchant has sold unsafe, spoiled or materially misdescribed food, please tell us — see our Refund & Cancellation Policy for how to report it, and what happens next.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the service develops. We will update the date whenever we do.

Last updated: 21 October 2026.