Family-owned food retailer Heron Foods has selected Verifone’s P2PE-Certified Payment as a Service in a move to protect cardholder data and improve customer experience.

The solution enables Heron Foods to strengthen payment security, reduce payment authentication times and accept NFC-based payments at all of its 248 stores.

Verifone said that its platform also protects cardholder data across Heron Foods’ payment terminals, networks and systems.

With this solution, Heron Foods will provide faster authorization and shorter queue times for customers.

Under the partnership, Heron Foods can access Verifone’s Value Added Services (VAS) to increase sales and enhance customer loyalty.

Additionally, Heron Foods will also be able to access Verifone’s PIN Transaction Security (PTS) 3.0 compliant and fully contactless/NFC-enabled payment terminal, VX 820, to accept a variety of payment methods including Apple Pay and future-proof its payment infrastructure.

Heron Foods finance director David Heuck said: "Verifone’s managed services and NFC-enabled terminals will enhance the shopping experience for our customers and provide world-class protection against fraud through a single system that increases efficiency for the long term."