Kroger Co.'s QFC grocery division is launching a contactless payments pilot that lets shoppers complete purchases with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, mobile banking apps and contactless chip cards.

The pilot involves near-field communication which relies on a radio frequency to transmit data between a payment terminal and a mobile device such as a smartphone, smart watch and even athletic wearables such as a Fitbit, according to a press release.

"QFC is excited to pilot contactless payments powered by NFC technology, providing our customers with an additional way to pay for their fresh food and household essentials," Chris Albi, president of QFC, said in the release. "The contactless payment solution will help make life easier for many of our customers and provide the freedom of choice among various options, including cash, debit, credit and check."

The COVID-19 pandemic is driving increased use of no-touch payments.

"Kroger continues to invest in innovative technologies that advance the customer experience, including our payment systems," Kathy Hanna, Kroger's senior director of payments, said in the release. "Providing our customers with flexibility — whether that means having the option to choose between shopping in-store or online for groceries or how you pay for them — we are committed to personalizing their shopping trip."

Kroger offers a variety of contactless payments including Kroger Pay, a touchless mobile payment solution that provides a single-use QR code to scan at the terminal; Scan, Bag and Go, that allows customers to use a mobile device to bag their own products and pay through the Kroger app, or order via the Kroger website or mobile app for free delivery or pickup.