British retail major Marks & Spencer has rolled out contactless payment to 644 UK shops following a 25-store trial in London last year.
The technology, provided by Visa Europe, enables consumers to simply touch the reader with their contactless cards, or enabled mobile phones to pay for goods under £20 without the need to enter a PIN.
The retailer claims that this move will position the brand as 'the UK's leading contactless retailer' processing over 230,000 contactless transactions per week.
About one in seven M&S card transactions under £20 are now completed using contactless payment, and 25% of contactless payments are made at self-checkout points in food halls.
Marks & Spencer retail director Sacha Berendji said: "A contactless payment takes place in less than a second, creating a quicker, easier and more convenient shopping experience."
Although London accounts for the highest level of contactless transactions, the retailer anticipates increasing use of contactless cards in other busy urban centers including Manchester, Croydon and Reading.
M&S employs over 78,000 people in the UK and abroad, and has over 700 UK stores, plus an expanding international business.
