Your partner of choice, when excellence matters
1. Our Policy
A cookie is a small file containing an identifier (a series of letters and numbers) sent by a web server to your web browser. The browser will store this file, and each time the browser requests a page from the server (i.e. you click on a page on our website) the identifier is then sent back to the server.
There are two main categories of cookies - ‘persistent’ cookies and ‘session’ cookies.
A session cookie, will only last as long as the user session lasts, so will be deleted once web browser is closed. A persistent cookie, however, will continue to be stored by the browser even after the user session ends. Generally it will be stored until it reaches its set expiry date or unless deleted by the user before that date.
Cookies do not always contain information that personally identifies a user, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies. When cookies can identify an individual via their device, it is considered personal data.
More information about cookies can be found at: www.allaboutcookies.org.
2. Types of Cookies
As well as being ‘persistent’ or ‘session’, different types of cookies can be used for different purposes. Different types of cookies include:
Necessary: these cookies are required for the operation of the website, enabling services such as log-in, sign-up to newsletters, etc.
Functional: these cookies allow the server to recognise a computer on connection to the website. This allows for faster downloading of pages, but also allows for personalisation of website content, including remembering a user when they return to the website, remembering that user’s preferences (including cookie preferences), etc.
Analytical/Statistic Cookies: these cookies are used to collect data (e.g. IP addresses, popular pages, length of time on pages, site performance) in order to create and analyse information and statistics on use and performance of a website. This information is then used to help improve the way the website works. These types of cookies may be set by the website operator but are often set by ‘third parties’ on the website user’s behalf.
Advertising/Targeted: cookies may also be used to gather information on a website user for the purpose of personalising advertising for that user. As with analytical cookies, these cookies are often provided by third parties.
Cookies on a website do not always originate from the website owner/operator. Third parties, such as advertisers or online service providers, may also use cookies to collect certain information on website users, often for purposes such as data analytics (statistics on website use, for example) or targeted advertising.
Providers of third party cookies will have their own privacy policy and cookie policy which will tell you how and why they use cookies.
3. What Cookies Do We Use, and Why?
Our websites www.kent-athlone.com, www.kent-pharm.co.uk and www.athlone-laboratories.com uses both persistent and session type cookies for analytical/statistical purposes. The table below sets out each of these cookies and provides details on their type, when they will expire and the purpose of the cookie.
| Cookie Name | Type & Purpose | Expiration | Purpose & More Information |
| _ga | Google Analytics - Analytical cookie | 2 years | Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. |
| _gat | Analytical cookie | 1 day | Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate. |
| _gid | Analytical cookie | 1 day | Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. |
Overall, we use these cookies in order to understand how visitors interact with websites and to give the website user the best possible experience of our website. Any personal data which may be collected by cookies on our website shall only be retained for as long as is necessary for the purposes described above. However, we do not take responsibility for the gathering and use of data by third party cookies, such as Google Analytics – the use of these cookies is governed by the third party’s own cookie policy. Google Analytics make available an opt-out mechanism and provides more information. To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
4. Managing Cookies
Within your browser settings you can also choose whether you wish to accept cookies or not. Different browsers make different controls available to you and so we provide links below to popular manufacturers’ instructions on how you can do this. Generally, your browser will offer you the choice to accept, refuse or delete all cookies at all times, or those from providers that website owners use (“third party cookies”), or those from specific websites.