Why accepting the Edenred Meal card is an asset for retailers

15 de April, 2026

In an increasingly competitive and demanding market, accepting the Edenred Meal card brings real advantages for retailers. As well as improving the customer experience with convenient payment, it is also an opportunity to attract and retain customers.

Recent studies carried out in European markets where this benefit is well established, such as Italy and Romania, show that consumers who use the Edenred Meal card tend to buy more, choose higher quality products and be more loyal to establishments that accept this card.

Three trends you can take advantage of in your business

1 – higher spending on food

Consumers with Edenred meal card spend an average of 7% more per month on food products than non-users. What’s more, when they pay with this card, the value of the basket is up to 30% higher than when they pay with cash. In other words, accepting Edenred Meal can represent a significant increase in the average volume of purchases per customer, boosting your establishment’s sales.

2 – preference for quality products

Another relevant finding of the study is the tendency of these consumers to choose fresh, higher quality products. This is a clear sign that your business can attract an audience that values differentiated products and is willing to pay more for them, helping to position your point of sale as a benchmark for variety and superior quality.

3 – Customer loyalty and retention

In addition to the direct impact on the average value of the baskets, accepting the Edenred Meal card is fundamental to guaranteeing customer loyalty. The vast majority of users consider it critical to be able to use their card in the establishment and express their intention to change stores if this benefit is no longer accepted. Therefore, no longer accepting the card represents a real risk of losing customers to competitors who continue to accept it, making this solution a key strategic factor for customer retention and satisfaction.

Benefits for Portuguese retailers

Although this study focused on Italy and Romania, the maturity of the Portuguese market with regard to the Edenred Refeição card suggests that the conclusions are applicable to our context. Accepting Edenred cards in your establishment is not just a matter of facilitating a payment; it is an investment to attract customers with greater purchasing power, increase the frequency of their visits and increase their connection to the point of sale.

In short…

For retailers, accepting Edenred Meal Cards offers a clear competitive advantage: higher sales volume, better quality in the customer basket and more loyalty, with all these factors contributing to sustainable business growth. In a market where attracting and retaining customers is increasingly challenging, this is an opportunity that should be seized to consolidate and expand your customer base.

If you don’t already accept the Edenred Meal Card, take the opportunity to integrate this solution and win more loyal customers, increasing your sales and the growth of your business.

Methodological note

The aforementioned results are based on external studies carried out in 2024, in European markets with a high level of maturity in the use of Meal Cards (Italy and Romania), conducted by independent entities such as Kantar, Nielsen and Roland Berger, and commissioned by Edenred. These studies include data from more than 20,000 consumers and thousands of points of sale, ensuring the reliability and relevance of the conclusions for the food retail context. If you wish, you can consult the full study here.