Longo's to Launch Full Suite of Prepaid Products, Displays

Longo's Brothers Fruit Markets Inc., a grocer operating 23 locations in the greater Toronto area as well as the Grocery Gateway online service, has entered into a prepaid display partnership agreement with Atlanta-based InComm, the United States’ largest provider of gift cards, prepaid wireless products, reloadable debit cards, digital music downloads, content, games, software and bill payment solutions.

The exclusive retail launch of a full range of prepaid products and displays at all Longo's stores will encompass more than 26 top-tier brands across such products as gift cards, music, digital content and gaming, financial services, lifestyle, experiential, and wireless phone cards. With a focus on innovation, category management and InComm's best practices for launching prepaid programs at retail, the rollout will aim to create a prepaid destination around Longo's new displays. Additionally, InComm's key international alliances and extensive product offerings will offer the grocer access to new products and customers.

"Partnering with InComm strengthens our position as a gift card destination in Toronto," observed Harpeet Ferron, director, grocery, dairy and frozen for Mississauga, Ontario-based Longo's. "Leveraging InComm's global relationships, we will now be able to provide our customers access to a number of key partners and products. This added depth of product offerings helps build consumer demand and will help establish our overall prepaid program."

"InComm is committed to being the leader within the global prepaid industry, and opportunities like this allow us to create a value proposition for both our product and retail partners and their customers that is unrivaled in the category today," noted Brian Parlotto, the vendor’s SVP of consumer products and international.

As well as establishing card partner relationships, InComm is collaborating with Longo's on the development of promotions and marketing campaigns aligned with the holiday season. The companies anticipate a strong fourth quarter for the prepaid category in the Toronto market.