Shirking the Tech Giants’ Mobile Wallets, Kroger Unveils One of Its Own

Kroger is flexing on Apple and Google this week, passing on the opportunity to accept Apple Pay or Google Pay at its stores and choosing instead to launch its own mobile wallet that doubles as a loyalty card, WCPO reported in Columbus.

The payment option, a QR code on loyal shoppers’ phones, will allow them to pay for groceries more swiftly and rack up the benefits of loyalty points in the process.

Currently active in Columbus and Colorado, the payment option should hit the grocery chain’s outlets nationwide by the end of 2019, WCPO reported. Kroger customers can link their Pay account to any major credit or debit card.

It was announced just last month that 74 of the nation’s top 100 merchants would accept Apple Pay. Kroger may be holding out to maintain the strength of its loyalty program and keep its hands on ever more valuable customer data.

Joe Zappa is Street Fight’s managing editor.