Co-op Tohoku Sunnet Business Federation has announced the distribution of smartphone payment app "CooPay" that can be used at the stores of its member co-ops from July 2019. This is the first smartphone payment service by a supermarket chain in Japan.

Co-op Tohoku Sunnet Business Federation has earlier on been promoting cashless payment at the stores of its member co-ops by introducing its own prepaid and credit cards. The new launch app "CooPay" is to further advance its cashless efforts.

Upon starting the app a bar code specific to the co-op member will be displayed. When this barcode is scanned at the cash register the total amount of goods purchased will be deducted from the member’s bank account at a later date. There is no charge for the app and its usage. Additional benefits of using the app include the offering of coupons, the award of extra shopping points and the provision of various campaign information.

In 2014, Co-op Tohoku Sunnet Business Federation started the “smart receipt” service where in place of paper receipt the system sends the customer shopping data to his/her smartphone app. "CooPay" users will be automatically registered in the "smart receipt" service, and their usage history can be easily checked on the app.

In addition, the subscription of new members with any of the member co-ops of Co-op Tohoku Sunnet Business Federation together with the registration of members’ bank account and the set up of "CooPay" can all be done online.

Co-op Tohoku Sunnet Business Federation is expecting an increase in co-op membership and their use through the introduction of "CooPay". The Federation is also considering new services using the smartphone app, such as self-scan shopping and expansion of various information services in the future.