News from the Wire

Cub Foods Launches Biometric Payment Technology in All Chicago Stores; Customers Can Purchase Groceries with the Touch of a Finger

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 — 14:08:31 (EDT)

CHICAGO--Oct. 19, 2005--Cub Foods East Region today announced that it is launching biometric payment technology in all 24 of its Chicago stores. The new technology, provided by Pay By Touch, is free to shoppers and will allow them to pay for their groceries with a finger scan that is linked to their financial accounts. Eliminating the need to carry a wallet or checkbook in the store, the new system provides customers with greater convenience, security and speed at checkout. It will be available in all 24 Chicago Cub Foods stores by November 10. Interviews and photo opportunities are available today between 1 and 3 p.m. at the Wheaton Cub Foods (501 South Country Farm Rd, Wheaton). %%N%%N"We're always looking to bring additional conveniences to our customers," said Ed McManus, president of Cub Foods East Region. "That's why we're thrilled to offer this proven technology in our Chicago stores. Not only will it provide shoppers with greater convenience, but added security and ease of check out." %%N%%N"Coast to coast, consumers are embracing Pay By Touch," said John Rogers, founder, chairman and CEO of Pay By Touch. "Hands down, paying by touch is the simplest way to pay and is making consumers' lives easier everyday." %%N%%NHow It Works %%N%%NShoppers can use Pay By Touch after a quick one-time sign-up at a special kiosk located in Cub stores. Signing up is simple and consists of providing identification, a voided check or EBT (electronic benefit transfer) card and a finger scan. The Pay By Touch technology does not use actual fingerprints. It creates a set of 40 data points that cannot be reverse engineered into a fingerprint. The data points are encrypted and converted into a mathematical equation that allows for a secure identity match at the point of sale. The system is highly secure and customer information is never sold. %%N%%NOnce enrolled, shoppers can use their finger to purchase products at any Cub Foods store. To pay for goods, shoppers simply place their finger on a scanner at the cash register. The system then displays the individual's electronic wallet, which contains the payment options available to them. Current options at Cub Foods include eCheck (a direct debit from an existing checking account) and Illinois Link (EBT). Additional options, such as credit cards, may be added at a later date. %%N%%NAbout Pay By Touch %%N%%NPay By Touch's patented biometric payment products are free to members and enable them to quickly and securely pay for purchases or cash checks using a finger scan linked to their personal identification information, financial accounts and loyalty programs. Members register once, and then can securely pay with a finger scan anywhere Pay By Touch is installed. The privately-held company offers retailers a complete payment solution, from front-end biometric authentication, age verification and check cashing to payment processing merchant services for ACH (electronic check), debit and credit card transactions. Pay By Touch's biometric payment products enjoy the unique protection of more than two-dozen US-issued patents. For additional information, visit www.paybytouch.com. %%N%%NAbout Cub Foods %%N%%NCub Foods provides consumers with the freshest produce, widest selection and greatest value available today. In addition to innovative natural, organic and ethnic foods--from Hispanic to Polish--Cub stores offer shoppers added conveniences, such as in-store pharmacy and banking. Cub Foods was established in 1968 as one of the nation's first discount grocery stores. The organization was purchased in 1980 by SUPERVALU. %%N%%NSource: Company Press Release

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Source: Company press release.