The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) established Merchants Express Money Order Company, Inc. (MEMO) in 1986 to provide a high quality money order service to its members in the supermarket and convenience store industry. MEMO grew to become one of the nation's largest money order companies.

Today, MEMO operates in 20 states and Washington, D.C., representing a diverse group of retailers, including supermarkets, convenience stores, check cashers, university book stores, insurance agents, dollar stores, pharmacies and travel agencies. Through the years, MEMO expanded its product suite to include prepaid cellular airtime, prepaid long distance calling cards, walk-in bill payment service, and debit/credit card processing/EBT.

To expand its footprint, MEMO established several business subsidiaries to concentrate in specific markets: MEMO Money Order Company, Inc., MEMO Money Order Company of New York, Inc, and Merchants Express U.S.A., Inc.

MEMO's warehouse operation was originally established to provide supplies to retailers. In 1996, MEMO expanded its services to include money order dispenser maintenance, a Help Desk, depot equipment service, inventory replenishment, supplies, shipping and receiving. Full-time technicians and a warehouse manager are available at the Help Desk to assist retailers with technical problems.

MEMO continues to research and develop new products and services that provide a profit contribution to the association and assist retailers with providing a one-stop shopping solution for their customers.