Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc has been chosen as sole strategic partner for self-checkout systems by The Kroger Co.
The three-year hardware, software and services agreement with Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc is believed to be the grocery industry's largest commitment for self-checkout systems in 2005 and the largest for Fujitsu since it acquired the U-Scan product line and assets in April 2004.
The complete line of U-Scan terminals enables Kroger to modify the model and layout of the systems for each location depending upon the store's design and customer traffic.
Kroger currently offers self-checkout in more than 1,600 stores.
Austen Mulinder, President and CEO at Frisco, Texas-based Fujitsu, said, "Kroger has long been a self-checkout pioneer in the grocery industry, and we're thrilled to have earned the right to help them continue that journey."
"This is a major milestone in integrating U-Scan into our business model and underscores our bullish sentiment on the continued strong growth we'll see in our self-checkout market share. It also reflects rapid consumer acceptance and adoption of self-checkout in general, helping Fujitsu U-Scan quickly become the leading system in the grocery marketplace," he added.
"Our studies show that retailers like Kroger continue to invest aggressively in self-checkout," said Greg Buzek, President of IHL Consulting Group, a retail-focused market research and consulting firm based in Franklin, Tenn.