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Albertsons unveils contactless payment option at all stores

New Albertsons Pay technology available through retailer’s updated just for U loyalty app

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

October 19, 2020

2 Min Read
Albertsons checkout lanes.jpg
With Albertsons Pay, customers will be able to simply show the QR code in their just for U app at checkout to apply their discounts, earn rewards and securely pay for their groceries.Albertsons

Albertsons Companies Inc. on Monday introduced Albertsons Pay, a new zero-touch checkout experience available through its updated just for U loyalty app.  Albertsons Pay provides shoppers with a safe, secure, and contact-free way to pay, use discounts and earn rewards all at the same time.

“Easy, fast and zero-touch checkout. That’s the bottom line with Albertsons Pay,” said Albertsons Cos. EVP and chief operations officer Susan Morris. “Albertsons Pay combines your just for U discounts, rewards and payments in one incredibly easy contactless transaction.”

The new technology is available in all Albertsons Cos. stores, which include Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Star-Market, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets and Carrs.

Albertsons Pay users can choose one of two new contactless pay options through the just for U app: Albertsons Direct, a safe and secure way for shoppers to pay through their bank, and Albertsons Cash, a stored-value account that can be pre-loaded and used across all Albertsons Cos. stores. After setup, customers simply show the QR code in their just for U app at checkout to apply their discounts, earn rewards and securely pay for their groceries.

The new contactless pay option complements existing NFC-enabled tap-to-pay options with debit and credit cards, which are available in all Albertsons stores. In addition, customers will also find a link to Apple Pay and Google Pay within the just for U app for easy access to contactless credit and debit transactions.

Related:Retailer of the Year: A New Chapter for Albertsons

Customers can also continue to support local charities through Albertsons Pay’s donation option. Albertsons and its customers have raised nearly $100 million for community hunger relief in 2020, including more than $44 million generously provided by customers at checkout.

Albertsons has seen strong adoption of and growth in its just for U loyalty app in 2020. In the first quarter, Albertsons saw 27% growth in just for U enrollments to 22.5 million active members, who have an average weekly spend 3.8 times that of non-members. The retailer also has worked to expand membership, including in its Jewel-Osco and Mid-Atlantic divisions.

Albertsons also has capitalized on learnings from its just for U program. In the 2020 first quarter, the number of members redeeming digital deals and coupons rose 32%, with the average weekly spend twice that of customers not redeeming that savings. Likewise, sales from households redeeming digital deals, coupons and awards through just for U were up 28% versus their spend a year ago.

Related:Podcast: Albertsons aims to be ‘best local grocer,’ COO Susan Morris says

“Our occasional customers have changed their behavior most dramatically over the past few months,” said Chris Rupp, chief customer and digital officer, earlier this year. “Those customers are now choosing Albertsons much more often as they have consolidated their shopping trips. This is an example where an occasional customer — not one who we would know very well — is starting to shop with us more often. So we can create better personalized experiences for those customers as well.”

The company operates 2,252 retail food and drugstores with 1,726 pharmacies across 34 states and the District of Columbia.

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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