Neil Hughes
Popular U.S. grocery chain Trader Joe's is gearing up to begin accepting contactless payments via Apple Pay at check-out, AppleInsider has learned.
Kiosks at Trader Joe's checkout counters across the U.S. have been seeing upgrades in recent weeks and months to VeriFone touchscreen machines. Some of these payment terminals already advertise that they accept Apple Pay, as seen above at a store in Raleigh, spotted by AppleInsider.
Not all stores have yet enabled support for Apple Pay, even if the new VeriFone terminals are installed. For example, a trip Friday afternoon to the Trader Joe's in Brooklyn revealed that Apple Pay is not yet being accepted, and a check-out clerk mentioned that support is forthcoming at an unknown date.
AppleInsider reached out to Trader Joe's to find out when Apple Pay support might be officially, fully coming to the grocery chain, but requests for comment were not returned as of Friday afternoon.
Managers at two California stores separately verified that Trader Joe's is experimenting with touchless payment solutions, including Apple's, but has yet to make a formal decision on support. Employees at other locations had not yet heard of upcoming functionality.
The California-based, privately-held company owns more than 400 locations across the U.S., spanning to both coasts. Specializing in private label foods, organics and specialty products, it raked in an estimated $12 billion in revenue last year.
When it officially launches, Apple Pay support at Trader Joe's will join other grocery chains such as Meijer, Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo and Whole Foods, among others.
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55 Comments
Yeah, I went there on Monday. Saw the Apple Pay logo on the screen. Paid with my Watch. Blew the cashier's mind.
Good news. Trader Joe's was such a holdout on barcode readers, I was wondering how soon they would move into "airpay" POS systems of any kind. Not wondering actually, but worried is more like it. If they dodged Apple Pay it would be a huge PR issue in California. Can't wait to see how people react to the Watch. The checkout counter at TJ's is always a social scene already, in complete contrast to other chain groceries that I know of.
I work for Trader Joe's. We go live with ?pay on Wednesday May 20th. Company wide.
Sprouts Farmer's Market also accepts Apple Pay... Shown on their terminals by logo and it works. So does Smiths Market (Kroger owned). Lots of places rolling it out.
Wegmans does also.