UK convenience retailer Co-op extends tie up with payments technology company ACI Worldwide

ACI Worldwide and Co-op have announced an extension of their payments technology partnership.

This will see Co-op continue to use the full range of solutions offered by ACI’s Payments Orchestration Platform, including in-store, online and mobile payment processing as well as end-to-end payments and fraud management.

Co-op operates around 2,400 stores in towns, villages and cities across the UK. ACI has supported it with the launch of several payment initiatives in recent years. For example, Co-op uses its point-to-point encryption and tokenisation technology to secure its payments data.

In 2024, the retailer moved its full stack of payments and fraud prevention software into ACI's multi-tenant cloud platform hosted in Microsoft Azure.  

“ACI Worldwide has a long and successful track record of delivering innovative merchant payment and fraud prevention capabilities,” says Erich Litch, General Manager of Payment Software at ACI Worldwide. “Our market leading payments software solutions provide merchants across the globe with the flexibility to design and configure new products quickly while managing payments effectively and securely.”

“We are excited and proud to extend our longstanding partnership with Co-op,” says Nick Craig, Head of  Europe, ACI Worldwide. “ACI’s cutting-edge technology will allow us to continue to scale and launch new, complex innovative projects, underscoring our position as one of the leading retailers in the UK.”

“We are pleased to continue our longstanding and successful partnership with ACI Worldwide,” says Paul Fletcher, Head of Payments, Co-op. “We are growing and investment in new technology supports our work to ensure an easy, quick and convenient shopping experience for shoppers. We aim to operate the best small shops, and our partnership with ACI Worldwide enables us to provide increased payment security, choice and convenience.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Payments will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which will open for entries in March, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.