Chinese Retail Giant Launches Online Supermarket JoyBuy In The UK
China’s largest retailer by revenue, JD.com, has begun testing a new e-commerce grocery site in the UK called Joybuy.
Initially taking orders from consumers in select London postcodes, the website offers an extensive range of ambient and frozen foods, household products, baby items, beverages, personal care, beauty, health, pet supplies, and nicotine products from major brands. Hundreds of Morrisons own-label lines are also available across several categories.
A spokesperson from JD.com told trade publication The Grocer that Joybuy was currently in a testing phase with plans for an official launch and wider rollout to other cities by the end of the year.
The UK Joybuy website says it offers same-day and next-day delivery, with a 30-day free return policy.
The report by The Grocer said the company has been quietly building a highly experienced team of UK grocery buyers and category execs in recent months.
This includes Matthew Nobbs, a former commercial director for rapid grocery player Gorillas, director of trading for Holland & Barrett, and senior buying director for Lidl UK. He was appointed JD.com UK chief merchandise officer in February and recently posted on LinkedIn: “Getting ready to rumble in the UK for one of China’s biggest success stories”.
Meanwhile, Richard Thorn, a former online trading manager at Sainsbury’s and Asda account lead for PepsiCo, was appointed senior category manager for food & beverage in January.
Buyers have also been recruited from Ocado Retail, Amazon and Tesco, with JD.com currently advertising for more than 40 London-based roles, including FMCG, baby, personal care and ambient category managers.
The report noted that, unlike other Chinese e-commerce companies such as Temu and Alibaba, which operate a marketplace model, JD.com functions as a retailer, holding stock in its own warehouses.
The company saw its turnover exceed $157bn last year and has been growing its presence outside of China in recent years. It has already established warehouses across Europe in the Netherlands, Poland, and France.
“JD.com’s operations in Europe are built on the same principles that define our success in China: delivering high-quality products at great prices, backed by fast and reliable delivery,” the company spokesperson told The Grocer.
NamNews Implications:
* JD.com is patently taking the UK market seriously.
- Staffing up.
- Starting in the UK’s biggest conurbation.
- Positioning: ‘delivering high-quality products at great prices, backed by fast and reliable delivery’.
* Categories: an extensive range of ambient and frozen foods, household products, baby items, beverages, personal care, beauty, health, pet supplies, and nicotine products from major brands.
* Hundreds of Morrisons own-label lines available across several categories.
* Need any more details?
