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Alibaba expands instant commerce efforts with US$281 million Taobao convenience store push

A network of Taobao-branded partner convenience stores is expected to roll out in more than 200 cities across the mainland

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The first batch of Taobao-branded partner convenience stores launched on Saturday. Photo: Sina
Ben Jiangin Beijing
Alibaba Group Holding on Friday unveiled a 2 billion yuan (US$281 million) investment as part of a programme that will see a network of Taobao-branded convenience stores across China support the operations of the firm’s instant commerce and on-demand delivery business.
Rather than establishing Taobao Shangou’s own bricks-and-mortar shops, the programme would primarily provide existing convenience stores with a tech facelift, leveraging Alibaba’s digital infrastructure, according to Hu Qiugen, the instant commerce unit’s general manager. Alibaba owns the Post.

Under the programme, the operators of partner convenience stores would receive digital supply chain support from Alibaba’s domestic wholesale platform 1688.com, technical insights on product procurement and get their stock inventory replenished via the group’s Aoxiang platform, as well as Taobao branding.

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That technical support is expected to make certain each store provides “one-stop, 24-hour and 30-minute delivery” shopping service to consumers, according to Hu. Taobao Shangou’s partner convenience stores are expected to be rolled out in more than 200 cities on the mainland.

The first batch of Taobao partner convenience stores launched on Saturday in cities that include Hangzhou, the capital of eastern Zhejiang province, and Nanjing, the capital of eastern Jiangsu province.
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“We are committed to ensuring a win-win within our ecosystem,” Hu said.

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