Kroger, the American retailing giant, has finally begun accepting Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods at select locations in Kentucky and Ohio. This move marks the end of a years-long holdout by Kroger, which had been one of the largest retailers in the United States not to accept Apple Pay since its launch in 2014.

Customers who have been waiting for the convenience of using their iPhone or Apple Watch to make purchases at Kroger can now tap to pay at checkout. The news was first reported by customers on social media platforms such as Reddit and Twitter.

While it remains unclear how many Kroger stores have adopted this payment system, it is a significant step forward for the company. With over 1,200 grocery stores operating under the Kroger brand, it is hoped that the move will encourage more retailers to embrace the benefits of contactless payment.

Despite its previous resistance to Apple Pay, Kroger did roll out the service at some of its other grocery chains over the past few years. Ralphs in California, QFC in Washington and Oregon, and King Soopers in Colorado and Wyoming all accepted Apple Pay. Kroger-owned chain Fred Meyer also recently started accepting the payment system in the Northwest.

A Kroger spokesperson confirmed that the company’s North Carolina-based banner, Harris Teeter, is “working towards accepting Apple Pay.” This means that Kroger is slowly but surely embracing contactless payment methods, which are fast becoming a popular choice for customers looking for a quick and secure way to pay.

It is worth noting that Kroger still offers its own payment service called Kroger Pay, which requires customers to scan a QR code at checkout to pay with a debit or credit card stored in the Kroger app. The company appears to be hedging its bets, offering customers a choice of payment methods.