Kroger announced news on Tuesday (Dec. 12) that it has inked a deal with Chase Pay to offer customers mobile payment capabilities next year.
In a press release, Kroger said that integration with Chase Pay, the mobile wallet from JPMorgan Chase, will roll out in select retail markets and eCommerce programs in 2018. The move is part of the company’s Restock Kroger plan, in which the grocery chain aims to create shareholder value by changing the way Americans eat. One of the key initiatives of the plan is to secure alliances that will expand customer value, Kroger said.
“Technology is transforming our customers’ experiences and greatly influencing how we are reimagining the story of the future,” said Chris Hjelm, Kroger’s chief information officer. “Mobile wallets enable a more seamless shopping experience for our customers and, at the same time, can help us drive cost out of our business.”
Kroger said that via the partnership, Chase’s 65 million customers will have an opportunity to use Chase Pay at Kroger for online and in-store purchases. “This is a significant win for our customers who now will be able to save time and money using Chase Pay at one of the top retailers in the country,” said Jennifer Roberts, head of Digital Products at Chase. “Kroger is one of the places our customers shop the most, and it’s great to deliver more value to both a key partner and our customers.”
Kroger has been in defense mode ever since Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market this past summer. With the competition heating up in the grocery market — and with Amazon holding its ground as the most feared rival of them all — Kroger and other retailers are opting to make changes to stay competitive. Digital payments, which offer speed and convenience at checkout, are one solution retailers believe will help keep customers in their stores.
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