Alibaba will begin to sell Chicken of the Sea products through its online sales portal Tmall, a major food e-commerce platform in China.
The partnership was announced at Gateway ’17, a conference hosted by Alibaba in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
“Chinese consumers are increasingly discerning and demanding, putting a premium on safety and quality when shopping for fresh and chilled seafood, such as lobster, shrimp and salmon,” Chicken of the Sea/Thai Union Managing Director of Emerging Markets Faisal Sheikh, said. “Everyone at Chicken of the Sea is excited to join forces with Alibaba, to provide the highest-quality seafood available directly to the Chinese consumer.”
According to an Alibaba press statement, which also announced a partnership between the e-commerce giant and Driscoll’s, a producer of fruits including strawberries and blueberries, the Chinese online market represents a growing consumer segment, with more than 36 million households in China buying fresh products online in 2016. That number is expected to double by 2020, Alibaba said.
"We are thrilled to welcome these two companies onto our platform and to help facilitate their journey to reach millions of Chinese consumers,” Alibaba Vice President Jet Jing said. "These mutually beneficial partnerships will allow Alibaba to diversify the options available to consumers on our platforms, and we can help both Driscoll’s and Chicken of the Sea to successfully build their brand and presence in China."
Sellers of food products on Tmall have access to the Cainiao Network, Alibaba’s logistics affiliate, which gives them same day and next day delivery in more than 1,100 counties and districts in China, Alibaba said.
