Aldi to Open Chinese Online Store in 2017

07 Nov 2016 --- Aldi is to make an attempt to conquer the Chinese market by opening an online shop next year in the world’s biggest e-commerce market.

The move by the German discounter would mark the first time it would enter a new market without the help of a physical store.

The online shop, open in the second quarter of 2017, will be supplied by its Australian subsidiary Aldi Stores and will sell a "selected range of everyday grocery items" including products from its non-chilled grocery range and wine.

It has secured the domain name www.aldi.cn for the venture.

“We know there is a strong demand among Chinese consumers for Australian manufactured products and our goal is to provide a competitively priced alternative for shoppers seeking quality groceries. We believe our unique offer of high-quality Australian products at unbeatable prices will be an attractive proposition for Chinese consumers,” Aldi said.

“Aldi has enjoyed strong and long lasting relationships with many of our Australian suppliers since our first stores opened in 2001.”

“Our growth across the country has provided increased business for these suppliers, allowing them to invest this back into their own operations and contributing to their success. We look forward to further expanding these relationships as we develop further opportunities in Asia.”

Aldi said it has been sounding out its options in China for years as it looks at the best way to tap into potentially 1.4 billion customers, including a large number of cash-rich millennials who like to shop online.

Aldi will take solace from the fact that Chinese customers have embraced online shopping. Chinese online shopping giant Alibaba and JD.com have proved a huge success but Aldi will have to overcome any consumer circumspection about an oversees retailer taking on domestic retailers.

The German discounter, whose no-frills offering has proved popular in several European countries, currently runs an online shop in the UK, complementing its physical stores in the country.

It has also looked to take on the US market by opening a number of physical stores in the country.