Another retailer that knows its customers very well

Apple Pay logo Source: apple.com

Whole Foods Market has announced that it plans to be among the first US retailer to implement the new Apple Pay mobile payment system. (Source: http://www.planetretail.net/NewsAndInsight/Article/90108?WT.tsrc=Email&WT.mc_id=GlobalRetailNewsInsight&SendDate=10092014)

Given the demographic of the Whole Foods' customers, rich and educated, it is not surprising that this technology might be attractive to Whole Foods. If it speeds up the payment process it might also have the beneficial side effects of increasing customer throughput at the cash register and reducing labour costs.

It will be interesting to see how Apple Pay rolls out across the US retail landscape. Who will be the early adopters, higher end retailers or those with the bigger IT budgets?