Working in conjunction with Visa Europe and Worldline, Carrefour Belgium is to instal contactless payment technology for the vast majority of its outlets by the end of 2015, FinExtra.com reports.
The move is regarded as a watershed moment in Belgium’s retail sector, as it is the first occasion that a chain of Carrefour’s size and prominence has implemented such a measure in the country, which is relatively contactless-payment shy.
This technology has been available in Carrefour stores in Belgium using Carrefour Visa cards since 2010.
Jean-Marie de Crayencour, Belux country manager for Visa Europe, said, “Visa Europe is committed to ensuring that consumers have a simple, safe and secure way to pay, and we are excited about partnering with Carrefour Belgium and Worldline to support the roll-out of contactless payments in retail distribution.
“We’re proud to have led the way in establishing contactless payments in Europe, as the milestone of 1.1 billion contactless transactions by Visa cardholders across Europe in the last 12 months has just been reached. And we’re excited to be at the forefront of it in Belgium, as contactless payments become available to everyone. We hope the Belgian consumers will embrace the speed and convenience of touch-and-pay technology that is very popular in other European countries like the UK, France, Spain, Poland or the Czech Republic.”
Carrefour Belgium said, “We at Carrefour Belgium focus all our action on the innovations that will facilitate the shopping habits of our customers, and contactless-card acceptance is therefore at the heart of our vision to enhance the customer’s shopping experience.”
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
