CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger is once again redefining shoppers’ brick-and-mortar experience, introducing a new mobile payment solution and debit card to reward consumers with faster checkout and a more frictionless retail experience.

"Kroger is redefining the customer experience by creating innovative ways to pay at our stores and online," said Gary Millerchip, CEO of Kroger Personal Finance and Corporate Strategy Integration Lead. "Kroger Pay and the Kroger REWARDS debit card are two more ways we are transforming our payments model to benefit our customers."

Kroger Pay is a quick, safe, and easy-to-use mobile payment solution and iOS/Android feature that securely combines a customer’s payment and loyalty card information (including 1-2-3 REWARDS cards and any major debit, credit, or prepaid card), according to a press release. With this feature, all shoppers have to do is scan their custom PIN or biometrics at checkout to access digital coupons and personalized offers and pay for their groceries at the traditional checkout lanes and self-checkout stations.

"Kroger Pay is one of the few mobile wallets that pairs loyalty and payment," said Mary Ellen Adcock, Group Vice President of Operations. "The application of this exciting technology is another step in our front-end experience transformation."

Kroger Pay was first launched across the retailer's Columbus, Ohio, division and is scheduled to roll out to 10 more markets in the spring before launching nationwide later this year.

In addition, Kroger is also introducing its new KrogerREWARDS debit card, which streamlines payment by connecting directly to shoppers’ checking accounts. The card also offers shoppers bonus fuel points and discounts, with the perk of rewards doubling each time the card is used.

"Our new Kroger REWARDS debit card is a lower-cost payment option, enabling us to offer our customers additional savings when they are shopping in a store or online or fueling up," continued Millerchip. "Through Restock Kroger, we are lowering operating costs, and our new debit card is another way we are doing just that while also rewarding customers who use it."

While currently available to shoppers in Ohio and Colorado, the Kroger REWARDS debit card will be available in all Kroger Family of Stores by spring.

How will Kroger’s latest move affect the grocery retail landscape? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep an eye on all things fresh.

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