The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payment
services, and Mi Pueblo Food Center (“Mi Pueblo”), a San Jose-based
Hispanic grocery chain in Northern California, announced that Western
Union Money Transfer®, money order and bill
payment options will be available across Mi Pueblo’s Bay Area, Monterey
Peninsula and Central Valley locations, effective immediately.
The collaboration is part of Western Union’s efforts to strengthen its
independent retail network presence across the United States as well as
Mi Pueblo’s on-going mission to provide the best products and services
to its communities.
Privately-owned independent retailers represent single stores or small
chains and offer a wide inventory of international and local goods. They
are popular for their ease of access, familiarity, personable and
efficient service and well-rooted in communities with high
concentrations of the diaspora that is served by Western Union—including
Hispanics, Filipinos, Chinese and Indian.
Carter Hunt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Western Union
U.S., said, “We welcome Mi Pueblo Food Stores into the Western Union
family and are proud that our brand and service will be available to
customers who shop at Mi Pueblo stores.”
“At Western Union, we continue to connect the dots across the world as
we expand and link pioneering independent retailers like Mi Pueblo to
our global agent network in more than 200 countries and territories. Our
brand heritage, advancing technology and enhanced compliance are the
pillars of our reputation and enable strong, lasting relationships with
our Agents,” he added.
“In the U.S., our retail agent network is a combination of major
retailers, banks and independent retailers. Each type of retailer is
invaluable as they give our customers the flexibility and convenience to
stay loyal to the brand, regardless of where they live and work.
“Mi Pueblo is a significant win in our independent retail network
strategy, and we are encouraged by their potential to serve our core
customers,” he said.
Mi Pueblo will extend its exceptional customer service to include
bilingual representatives to provide information on tools available
through Western Union and help facilitate more efficient money transfer
services.
Javier Ramirez, CEO of Mi Pueblo Foods, said, “At Mi Pueblo we
are committed to providing customers the best products and services in
the region. This is why we have decided to work with Western Union. This
strategic relationship will allow us to offer customers more value and a
better alternative when sending their hard-earned money to loved ones
inside the U.S. and abroad. We look forward to working closely with
Western Union to create more programs that will benefit customers.”
Mi Pueblo was founded in 1991 as a quintessential Latino supermarket and
expanded excelling on its reputation for a wide-array of exotic
inventory served with a touch of immigrant ingenuity and customer
service.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union
provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient
ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to
purchase money orders. As of June 30, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo and
Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network
of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
over 100,000 ATMs. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242
million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion
of principal between consumers, and 459 million business payments. For
more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About Mi Pueblo
Mi Pueblo Food Center, established in 1991, is Northern California’s
leading neighbourhood grocery retailer. Each of our stores—located in
the Bay Area, Monterey Peninsula and Central Valley—offer consumers
quality foods, greater value, and genuine service in an authentic
environment modelled after hometown markets found in Mexico and Latin
America. Mi Pueblo’s business model is focused on providing every member
of the community with a fun, festive shopping experience, products of
the highest quality and friendly bilingual customer service. For
additional information about Mi Pueblo, please visit www.mipueblofoods.com.
WU-G, WU-F
Copyright Business Wire 2014