OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2015.  MasterCard have partnered with ASK Italian, Zizzi (both part of the Azzurri Group) and Carluccio’s to bring their customers a more convenient, speedier and fuss-free way to pay for their meals via the Qkr! with MasterPass app on their phone.

The Qkr! app, developed by MasterCard Labs, allows diners to pay for their bill as and when ready and offers the following benefits:

  • Convenience – Customers are in control of how and when they pay. If in a hurry they can pay as soon as they wish or when dining with friends or colleagues they can split the bill and pay.
  • Simplicity – The app is easy to download and customers can register with any payment card, not just a MasterCard.
  • Security – MasterCard processes 65,000 secure transactions a minute. Diners can be reassured their transaction will be safe and secure.

MasterCard partnered with wagamama earlier this year to launch Qkr! with MasterPass in the UK. It was the first restaurant chain to offer this new innovation in payments from MasterCard and has been a real success story for wagamama. Its popularity means new features will be made available soon, enabling wagamama diners to browse the menu using the app and order extra food or drinks straight to their table.

Scott Abrahams, Group Head of Acceptance and Emerging Payments, MasterCard UK&I said: “With ASK Italian, Zizzi and Carluccio’s all soon to be offering Qkr! with MasterPass, their customers will have greater convenience, simplicity and security when paying their bills. We are confident that their customers and the restaurants themselves will mirror wagamama’s experience, where both parties really benefit. Customers can enjoy their meal in the time they have and pay when ready, and restaurants can turn tables around more quickly and serve more customers.

Abrahams continued: “Qkr! is a flexible and powerful payment option and lends itself to environments beyond restaurants, such as cinemas and sports stadiums. We are delighted that three more major high street restaurants are joining Qkr! and we will continue to scale up the app for consumers in the UK and around the world.”

Doug Wooten, head of IT for the Azzurri Group commented: “Our customers are great at giving feedback and we know that they are looking for faster and more convenient ways to pay. By working with MasterCard and implementing Qkr! our restaurant teams can focus on delivering great service to customers and serving our fantastic food. We know that splitting bills is pain point for our customers and if they choose to pay with Qkr! It offers them a convenient solution, together with paperless receipts on the app for easy reference. This is all within a secure and trusted app that is easy for everyone to use with their card of choice.”

Jon Taylor, Head of IT, Carluccio’s Limited said: “Qkr! with MasterPass will give Carluccio’s customers another option to pay for their food and drink using a fuss-free app on their phones. It will allow them to pay as and when they are ready, speeding up the process for time-conscious diners and allowing groups to easily split the bill amongst themselves.”

MasterCard Payment Gateway Services* technology is integrated at the core of the Qkr! solution, it simply and efficiently connects restaurants and enables safe, end-to-end payment acceptance across all major payment brands. MasterCard continues to invest in its global Payment Gateway solution, to provide merchants, partners and their developers the tools to support new technologies and enable smart, safe and simple payments whether online, offline or via a mobile app.

Qkr! with MasterPass app is available for wagamama diners and will be available for customers at Ask Italian, Zizzi and Carluccio’s towards the end of 2015. The app can be downloaded from The App Store or Google Play.

Contacts:

Ked Mather, MasterCard UK&I: kedesh_mather@mastercard.com +44 (0)775 330 0375

Adam Keal, MasterCard UK&I: adam_keal@mastercard.com +44 (0)7710 916 144

James Thorpe, MasterCard UK&I: james_thorpe@mastercard.com +44 (0)7807 378 265

Doug Wooten, Azzurri Group: dougw@azzurrigroup.co.uk +44 (0)20 7535 4068

Francesca Smalley, Carluccio’s: francesca@rochecom.com +44 (0)20 7436 1111

Note: *MasterCard Payment Gateway Services incorporates payment gateway brands DataCash, MiGs and TNS Payment Gateway

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

 About Azzurri Group

Zizzi

Back in 1999 we opened the doors of our first ever Zizzi restaurant. Our philosophy was simple: every time you dine with us, it should be for great Italian inspired food in an environment designed by individual touches unique to the surrounding area. Today there are a few more Zizzi’s (over 135 now) but our philosophy remains the same.

Our restaurants have the warm and social atmosphere of typical Italian dining but host a playful individuality of their own, be it through the signature open kitchen design focused around the wood stone oven, or the unique illustrative art surrounding the walls. The people, the food and the prime locations make Zizzi the perfect place for good friends and family to come together and have a great time.

ASK Italian

ASK Italian is one of the UK’s leading casual dining restaurant brands, with over 110 restaurants throughout the country, driven by a passion for seeking out the best of Italian food and culture. With the help of expert friends, celebrated chef Theo Randall, award-winning Italian food writer Carla Capalbo and Master of Wine Adrian Garforth, ASK Italian has been discovering the best of Italian life, reflected in the menus and 100% Italian wine list. ASK Italian was named ‘Best Italian Restaurant’ in the 2013 Pizza and Pasta Association Awards. In March 2015, ASK Italian won best menu in the Mediterranean Casual Dining category at the restaurant MIDAS awards.

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