Chinese retailer rivalling Amazon launches in UK

A Chinese online retailer that is seeking to challenge the likes of Amazon is launching in the UK.

JD.com announced its new Joybuy platform will run from distribution sites in Milton Keynes and Luton.

The company sells technology, home appliances, beauty products, homewares and groceries.

The move comes after the £30bn ecommerce firm pulled out of talks to buy Currys in 2024 and Argos last year.

US and Hong-Kong listed JD.com is China's largest retailer by revenue.

It said it would offer next-day delivery to about 17 million UK households from its launch.

Bosses said the business planned to establish itself in the UK for "a long time" and they believed a combination of its product range, value and convenience would entice new customers.

Rival Amazon announced plans to close its first UK centre in Brogborough, Bedfordshire, earlier this year.

Matthew Nobbs, managing director of Joybuy UK, said the firm was confident about its growth prospects in the country.

"We are here for a long time, as our CEO has said. We have spent a lot of time working and honing to get our web and app proposition right, making it work in beta testing over the time," he said.

"We have to make sure the customer experience is really great."

The company is simultaneously launching in six new European markets, with the other being Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

The business struck a €2.2bn (£1.9bn) deal to snap up Germany-based electronics retail group Ceconomy last year.

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