Starbucks fans will now be able to enjoy the Apple Pay system when purchasing their favorite cup of coffee.
Apple confirms that it is rolling out the mobile-payments service to certain Starbucks establishments before the year ends. The company plans to increase its presence in all of the store's 7,500 locations in the U.S. in 2016.
The announcement came from Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay, who said that some Starbucks stores will begin accepting Apple Pay this year as part of the company's pilot program. Bailey was at the Code Mobile Conference event where she also confirmed that all Starbucks stores will have Apple Pay in 2016.
Apart from Starbucks, Bailey also mentioned that the mobile-payment system is rolling out to KFC and Chili's as well.
Apple Pay's roll-out to the three popular stores will definitely help in it in widening its reach and therefore increase its much-needed boost. While the service was launched since last year, it only makes up 1 percent of all retail transactions in the U.S. Its lack of acceptance in various retail establishments account for the system's slow roll-out.
Starbucks said that it has been using a mobile payment system which makes up 20 percent of the transactions at its U.S. locations. Since it has been doing well so far, the company plans to provide its customers with every available payment method system. Haley Drage, the company's spokeswoman for its Seattle location, said that Starbucks in the U.K. have been using Apple Pay for a couple of months now.
"It was received well by consumers," said Drage.
In the meantime, a spokeswoman for Chili's said that Apple Pay will be the first mobile payment system that they are adopting.
"Chili's is focused on bringing guests the most innovative technology, and Apple Pay is transforming mobile payments with an easy, secure and private way to pay," said Chili's in a statement.
Bailey added that Apple's mobile-payment system will be very essential when it rolls out to KFC which "have a need for fast payments." She noted that there are now more businesses, whether small and medium-sized, which are adopting the new technology in order for them to accept Apple Pay and other payment methods.
It remains to be seen if Starbucks will also qualify those transactions made through Apple Pay in its rewards program. Bailey confirmed that they are adding the loyalty programs feature using Apple Pay in Panera Bread, Whole Foods, Coca Cola, Kohl's, Walgreens and more.
