Retailers across Europe keep investing in their online programmes.
In France, Carrefour is buying one of the country’s largest online-only retailers, Rue de Commerce. The online retailer has annual sales of around €350 million ($397 million). In Germany, Rewe has introduced an e-commerce platform called Beef by Rewe, offering click and collect service for premium meat. In Scandinavia, ICA plans to expand its online service to around 150 stores by the end of the year, and Dansk Supermarked has acquired iPosen.dk, an e-commerce player that supplies Danish communes with groceries.
Reports continue to circulate that the online giant Amazon is preparing for a major launch of grocery delivery in Germany and the UK. There are published reports that Amazon has rented two distribution centres near Munich as it gets ready to offer same-day delivery. Amazon has also started selling long-life food products in Italy.
Another important development is that two of Europe’s biggest retailers are looking to market their products online in China. Sainsbury’s in the UK, which attempted a tentative entrance into the Chinese market in 2010, is aiming to capitalise on the strengthening demand for organic and gourmet produce in the country. Sainsbury’s will be offering tea, coffee, biscuits, and baby products, through the online platform Alibaba’s Tmall.
Metro, which already has wholesale cash and carry stores in China, has also signed up with Alibaba. The deal will cover both private label and manufacturer brands. Initially, more than 100 products, including cosmetics will be available on the site.
