Singapore shoppers at Funan can now check out and earn rewards in a single move. Primer Group and Mastercard have launched PrimerStar, a new retail payment and loyalty app powered by Mastercard’s Next Generation Point-of-Interaction system. The deployment is the first live rollout of this technology in Asia Pacific.
Founded in the Philippines in 1985, Primer Group of Companies has grown into a regional retail and distribution player spanning lifestyle and industrial sectors. The group manages more than 150 premium brands across outdoor, travel, footwear and fashion, supported by roughly 450 standalone stores worldwide, while also operating businesses in areas such as energy solutions, building systems and creative services. Headquartered in Manila and present across Asia Pacific and beyond, the company continues expanding into e-commerce, hospitality and new retail experiences as part of its broader push to deliver integrated consumer experiences.
Instead of juggling separate memberships across brands, the app consolidates everything into one profile. Present a dynamic QR code and the system identifies your membership, applies rewards and completes payment securely using tokenised credentials and biometric authentication.
What Shoppers Actually Experience
The concept is simple, your phone replaces both wallet and multiple loyalty cards.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Scan | Show the QR code in the PrimerStar app |
| Recognition | Membership and rewards detected instantly |
| Payment | Card processed via encrypted tokenisation |
| Verification | Biometric passkey confirms the transaction |
No separate loyalty counters, no plastic cards, no manual points claiming.
Works Across Multiple Lifestyle Brands
The app already operates across several Primer Group stores at Funan, including Hydro Flask, TOMS, Herschel and Allbirds. You can shop across different stores on the same day and still accumulate spending under one account.
Why Retailers Care About This
Traditional loyalty programmes often fail because customers forget cards, apps or passwords. This system removes friction by combining payment and rewards into a single action. Mastercard positions it as blending online convenience with in-store experience while keeping card details hidden through tokenisation and passkeys. In short, less queue time, fewer steps, higher conversion.
Launch Perk at Funan
Early adopters get a bonus.
| Promotion | Details |
|---|---|
| Reward | Limited edition Hydro Flask |
| Requirement | Spend S$200 via PrimerStar |
| Validity | Until March 2026 or while stocks last |
| Note | Spend can be combined across stores same day |
After Singapore, the platform is planned to expand to the Philippines first, followed by Malaysia. If successful, this could become the blueprint for future shopping in Southeast Asia, where the checkout counter becomes little more than a confirmation point.