Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo grocery stores to begin accepting Apple Pay - report

Citing an anonymous source, MacRumors reported on Friday that Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo stores will begin supporting Apple Pay at their more than 1,300 collective locations starting next week. Official support is said to begin on Monday, Nov. 17, though various reports suggest that some locations are already accepting Apple Pay.

Winn-Dixie has more than 500 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, while Bi-Lo is located over 800 stores in those same states plus North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo stores will join fellow grocers Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Meijer. Other major participating partners include BJ's, Bloomingdale's, Disney Store, Duane Reade, Foot Locker, Macy's, McDonald's, Nike, Office Depot, Panera Bread, Radio Shack, Sports Authority, Subway, Toys R Us, and Walgreens.

Also joining this week was office supply store Staples, which is now accepting Apple Pay at its more than 1,400 U.S. locations.

Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo stores have not been listed on Apple's website as supporters, so their addition is somewhat of a surprise. Other official upcoming partners for 2014 are:

• Anthropologie
• Free People
• Sephora
• Urban Outfitters
• Walt Disney World

Apple Pay retail is currently supported on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. In-store support for Apple Pay will also be expanded to the Apple Watch when it debuts in early 2015. Pairing an Apple Watch will allow older iPhone models to support Apple Pay, including the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s.