Western Union Continues Expansion; Signs Mi Pueblo

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 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

Source: Western Union