Agilysys and Compass Group North America Partner to Deliver Unique Loyalty Solution to Managed Foodservice Industry

Innovative Loyalty Application Rewards Purchases, Drives Healthy Eating Habits

CLEVELAND and CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of information technology and hospitality software solutions, and Compass Group North America, a leading foodservice management company, have announced a partnership to deliver a unique loyalty solution that rewards customers for food and beverage purchases.

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The Zipthru Rewards solution by Compass Group North America is an innovative loyalty program that can be used in corporate cafes and dining centers. The solution is fully integrated, down to the item SKU level, with InfoGenesis POS(TM) by Agilysys, enabling promotions to be built around item-specific purchasing behavior. With Zipthru Rewards, customers earn points for purchases, which they can later redeem for free meals, discounts off future purchases or other rewards. The program encourages customer visits to on-site dining centers and also may be used to reward healthy eating habits. An additional feature of Zipthru Rewards is its ability to integrate with the InfoGenesis cashless solution, which increases efficiency and offers convenience to customers.

“We are excited to partner with Agilysys to deliver this industry-leading solution to our customers in the managed foodservice sector,” said Rick Postiglione, chief executive officer of contract foodservices for Compass Group North America. “Now, more than ever, foodservice providers are looking for ways to add value to their offerings and deliver a more unique customer experience. The Zipthru Rewards solution enables them to provide a tangible benefit to customers and reward specific purchasing behavior.”

The Zipthru Rewards solution was recently implemented at a large manufacturing facility in the Midwest. The company, which sponsors a nutritional dining initiative, uses the solution to encourage cashless payment and promote healthy eating habits. Employees are rewarded for every cashless transaction, but earn double points for making selections from the Compass Balanced Choices menu.

“Zipthru Rewards actually helps customers encourage their employees to adopt healthier lifestyles,” said Lisa McEuen, senior vice president, Business Excellence for Compass Group North America. “Yet, the benefits extend to other areas. Healthier employees are more content, more productive and require fewer sick days. So, the solution ultimately improves the bottom line.”

The Zipthru Rewards solution also drives customer purchasing behavior. According to industry research, 80 percent of customers who participate in a loyalty program say that membership affects their purchasing decisions. Moreover, loyalty programs tend to increase customer check averages and boost customer satisfaction levels.

“We have enjoyed a long relationship with Compass Group and are pleased to partner with them to deliver this ground-breaking solution to their clients,” said Tina Stehle, senior vice president and general manager of Agilysys Hospitality Solutions Group. “We have combined the best aspects of our industry-leading POS system with a unique loyalty application to enable clients in the managed foodservice sector to offer exciting new dining options to customers. The result is technology that increases participation, engenders loyalty and enhances customer satisfaction. It’s a winning combination for everyone.”

About Agilysys, Inc.

Agilysys is a leading provider of innovative IT solutions to corporate and public-sector customers, with special expertise in select markets, including retail and hospitality. The company uses technology — including hardware, software and services — to help customers resolve their most complicated IT needs. The company possesses expertise in enterprise architecture and high availability, infrastructure optimization, storage and resource management, identity management and business continuity; and provides industry-specific software, services and expertise to the retail and hospitality markets. Headquartered in Cleveland, Agilysys operates extensively throughout North America, with additional sales and support offices in the United Kingdom and China. For more information, visit www.agilysys.com.

About Compass Group North America

Based in Charlotte N.C., Compass Group North America is the leading foodservice and support services company with more than $9 billion in revenues in 2008. With 388,000 associates worldwide, its parent company, UK-based Compass Group PLC, had revenues of 11 billion pounds Sterling in the year to September 30, 2008. For more information, visit www.cgnad.com.

    PR Contacts:
    Maureen Morreale, Agilysys, Inc., 440-519-8161,
    maureen.morreale@agilysys.com
    Sarah Hada, Compass Group North America, 704-328-1365,
    sarah.hada@compass-usa.com

SOURCE Agilysys, Inc.; Compass Group North America