Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.
Fujitsu and StoreNext Bag New Self-Checkout Customers; Wins Include National and Independent Grocery Chains
Fujitsu Gets Publix, OKUWA and Giant-Carlisle; StoreNext Wins Sherm's and Hiller's
Frisco and Plano, TX, February 11, 2005 — Self-checkout technology continues to gain momentum among large national grocery chains and independent regional grocers, according to new customer announcements expected from Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. and StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC, as the annual Food Marketing Institute's (FMI) Marketechnics show opens in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 13.
Fujitsu, a leading provider of point-of-sale hardware, software and services to large grocery and specialty retailers, has been awarded the self-checkout business of Publix Super Markets, Inc., the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Founded in 1930, Publix operates some 850 supermarkets throughout the southeast. Fujitsu expects to begin installing its U-Scan systems at Publix later this year.
In Japan, supermarket chain OKUWA Co., Ltd. has installed the first Fujitsu self-checkout system in Japan at quality supermarket "MESA OKUWA," at the Garden Park WAKAYAMA shopping center in Wakayama City, Japan, near Osaka. The chain has increased the efficiency of its store employees and improved service to customers by more effectively stationing sales clerks.
Ahold's Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Penn. is partnering with Fujitsu as the first U.S. supermarket to install the Fujitsu U-Scan Max self-checkout system in a live retail environment. The Giant chain currently uses U-Scan self-checkout systems at close to 90 stores in its chain.
StoreNext, a 50-50 joint venture of Fujitsu and Retalix Ltd. that focuses exclusively on serving the technology needs of independent grocers, will announce that Sherm's Thunderbird Markets Inc., a four-store, family owned independent grocer based in Medford, Ore. has implemented the Fujitsu U-Scan self-checkout system. Sherm's inaugural installation at the Thunderbird Market in Roseburg, Ore., went live in late October 2004 and has seen quick shopper acceptance and take-up, according to store manager Steve Rolston.
Hiller's Markets, a Metro Detroit area independent, will deploy Fujitsu U-Scan self-checkout systems across the six-store, family owned chain. StoreNext will install U-Scan systems to replace a competing first-generation self-checkout system in one store. U-Scan will also be deployed at the other five locations, for a total of 24 self-checkout lanes.
"Clearly, self-checkout is here to stay," said Austen Mulinder, president and CEO of Fujitsu Transaction Solutions and co-chairman of StoreNext. "We're very bullish on the prospects for its continued global expansion as it plays a key role in our own aggressive growth strategies."
About StoreNext
StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC is the No. 1 supplier of retail technology to independent grocers and regional chains. Based
in Plano, Texas, StoreNext is a joint venture of Retalix Ltd. (NASDAQ: RTLX) and Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. and markets
Fujitsu POS hardware, Retalix's ISS45 POS software and Internet Connected Services for managing stores via Web-enabled applications.
StoreNext is the only major retail IT company focused exclusively on meeting the needs of this wholesaler-served market with
packaged solutions that were previously available, affordable or practical only for large chains.
For more information, please see: www.storenext.com
About Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.
Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) and the IT "lifecycle solutions"
provider for consumer transaction environments. The company collaborates with customers to relentlessly reduce their costs
and improve their profitability. Fujitsu's offerings include multi-vendor infrastructure management services, point-of-sale
hardware and software, mobile devices and self service systems including U-Scan. The company has some 1,500 employees in the
U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. Example customers include Canadian Tire, ChevronTexaco, Hannaford Bros., H.EB., Loblaws, Nordstrom,
Payless ShoeSource, Regal Cinema, Ross Dress for Less, Staples, Stop & Shop and The TJX Companies, among others. The company
also has a 50/50 joint venture with Retalix Ltd. (NASDAQ: RTLX) in StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC, the No. 1 supplier of
retail technology to independent grocers and regional chains.
For more information, please see: us.fujitsu.com/retailing
Press Contacts
Neil McGlone
Michael A. Burns & Assoc.
Tel: (214) 521-8596 x230
E-mail:nmcglone@mbapr.com
Hope Dana
StoreNext
Tel: (972) 265-4811
E-mail:hdana@storenext.com
