The introduction of secure chip and pin technology in the British
retail sector has been sporadic and ill-prepared, according to
critics of the new scheme.
To shoppers in France, the increasing fuss being made of the
rollout of chip & PIN technology across the UK retail sector
must seem like a storm in a teacup.
Marks & Spencer is the latest UK retailer to introduce a
loyalty scheme, combining it with the laucnh of a new credit card.
But with points awarded only every time the card is used - and not
every time customers shop at the store...
Credit card payments made using chip and PIN technology - a much
safer method than the usual signature - are to be introduced in the
UK by 2005, but supermarket group Safeway is to begin its scheme
later this year.
Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, the world's number three bread-maker, said on
Monday it had completed a previously announced acquisition of the
US baking unit of Canada's George Weston for $610 million
(E702.5m), Reuters reports.
