Compass Group North America Speeds Up Cafeteria Transactions with MasterCard PayPass

Contactless payments to provide customers with increased speed and convenience at check-out.

Purchase, NY.- MasterCard Worldwide announced today that Compass Group North America, a leading provider of contract foodservice and hospitality services, will begin accepting MasterCard® PayPass™ at select cafeterias across the U.S. Compass Group customers, which include employees and guests of corporations, can simply tap their MasterCard PayPass cards or devices on the specially equipped readers at check-out to pay for their meals quickly and conveniently.

Throughout 2009, Compass Group will deploy PayPass-accepting Vivotech 4500M contactless readers at check-out lanes across its foodservice locations.

“Our on-site cafeterias typically handle large groups of people at lunchtime, and our operators need the best use of technology to maximize speed of service to our customers to enhance their dining experience,” said Rob Watkins, CIO, Compass Group North America. “By expanding payment options to include MasterCard PayPass, we are able to offer not only convenience, but also peace of mind from using a secure system.”

MasterCard PayPass is designed to make small-ticket purchases quick, secure and easy. Compass Group customers no longer need to hand their card over to a cashier or fumble for cash. Instead, they simply tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card or device on a PayPass-accepting reader at check-out. MasterCard PayPass also does not require customers to sign receipts for purchases under $25, further speeding up the transaction.

“Environments like corporate cafeterias are an ideal setting for MasterCard PayPass because they cater to a particularly busy set of customers,” said Cathleen Conforti, senior vice president, Global PayPass, MasterCard Worldwide. “By accepting MasterCard PayPass, Compass Group takes another step towards exceptional customer service by helping to ensure that lines move quickly.”

According to MasterCard research, consumer preference and satisfaction is driving PayPass growth and usage globally. About 94 percent of PayPass-using respondents to a 2008 MasterCard PayPass Benchmark Study were satisfied with their experience, and 77 percent of PayPass consumers said they use PayPass as their primary card for everyday purchases.

Compass Group will accept MasterCard PayPass in addition to all other traditional magnetic-stripe payment card brands.