News from the Wire

Farm Fresh Launches Pay By Touch Biometric Payment Technology in All Stores

Monday, December 19, 2005 — 11:56:00 (EST)

HAMPTON ROADS, VA – Farm Fresh has completed the installation of biometric payment technology in all 41 locations across Hampton Roads and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. This new technology, provided by Pay By Touch, is free to shoppers and allows them to pay for groceries with a finger scan linked to their financial accounts. By eliminating the need to carry a wallet or checkbook in the store, the Pay By Touch payment service provides customers with greater convenience, security and speed at checkout. %%N%%N“Farm Fresh is committed to providing world class service to our customers,” said Ron Dennis, president and COO of Farm Fresh Supermarkets. “After testing this new technology at select Farm Fresh locations and reviewing consumer feedback, we feel that this is a service that offers our customers additional convenience and security.” %%N%%NHow It Works: %%N%%NShoppers can use Pay By Touch after a quick one-time enrollment. To pay for goods, shoppers simply place their finger on a scanner at the point of sale. The system then displays the individual’s electronic wallet, which contains the payment options available to them. Current payment options at Farm Fresh include eCheck (a direct debit from an existing checking account), Discover® Network Cards and EBT (electronic benefit transfer). Additional options, such as other credit and debit cards, may be added at a later date. %%N%%NCustomers sign-up at a special kiosk located in Farm Fresh stores, or online at www.paybytouch.com . Signing up is simple and consists of providing identification, a personal check, Discover® Network Card or EBT card and a finger scan. The Pay By Touch technology does not use actual fingerprints; it creates a set of 40 data points based on unique characteristics on an individual’s finger 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. This information is stored at secure IBM data centers and customer information is never sold. %%N%%NShoppers enrolled in the Pay By Touch service can use their finger to purchase products at all participating Farm Fresh stores, as well other Pay By Touch-enabled retailers across the country. %%N%%N“Pay By Touch is already touching the nation from coast to coast with implementations in Washington, Oregon, South Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, New York, and Ohio,” said John Rogers, founder, chairman, and CEO of Pay By Touch. “With the holiday season upon us, we’re excited to give shoppers throughout Virginia and North Carolina the ultimate shopping convenience of making fast and secure purchases with the touch of a finger.” %%N%%NAbout Pay By Touch %%NPay By Touch’s patented biometric payment products are free to consumers and enable shoppers 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. Shoppers 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) and 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 Farm Fresh %%NFarm Fresh is a SUPERVALU company. Farm Fresh employs over 4,000 associates throughout the 41 locations across Hampton Roads and Elizabeth City, NC. Farm Fresh is recognized as the premiere grocer in the Hampton Roads area. Annual Reader’s Choice polls consistently name Farm Fresh as the Best Grocery Store. Farm Fresh prides itself on having clean stores, competitive prices, a large selection of quality national and regional brand products, one stop shopping services, and World Class customer service. Community Service and giving back to the community is an essential part of Farm Fresh’s philosophy. %%N%%NSource: Company Press Release

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Source: Company press release.