October 16 – While Manchester United’s owners and top management have been playing politics over the future powerbase of English professional football with their backfired Big Picture Project, the commercial engine of the club has nevertheless continued to purr.
The club have announced a new deal with buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) provider Laybuy and an extension of their agreement with German coffee company Melitta.
Laybuy, a New Zealand-based business, becomes the club’s official BNPL partner and as a first activation will allow fans to buy club merchandise in the Manchester United megastore at Old Trafford using the Laybuy app to spread their payments over six weeks interest free.
Laybuy will be integrated across other club retail platforms in 2021. Laybuy already holds a deal with Manchester City covering the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Manchester United’s Director of Partnerships, Sean Jefferson, said: “We know fans are looking for a range of different payment options that best meet their specific needs. That is why we are delighted to be partnering with Laybuy, a global leader in Buy Now Pay Later technology, to provide fans access to a more convenient way of purchasing club merchandise and services.”
Melitta buzzed
]German coffee brand Melitta have extended their global sponsorship with the club that began in 2018 after a year as a local sponsor.
“Our close and trusting relationship with Manchester United has paid off. We have been able to use the popularity of one of the world’s most well-loved football clubs very successfully for our brand and would like to further develop this in the coming years”, commented Volker Stühmeier, member of Melitta’s chief corporate management.
Since 2017, about a million cups of Melitta coffee have been served to fans at Old Trafford and over 200 fully automated coffee machines have been installed within the Club’s VIP, Executive Club boxes and office areas.
No value or term was given for either deal.
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