China’s largest retailer by revenue JD.com has today launched its express delivery service in the UK, as it prepares to launch full category e-commerce site and app Joybuy locally next month.
JoyExpress will deliver orders made on Joybuy in the UK, as well as in Germany, the Netherlands and France.
The service allows Joybuy to offer customers same-day and next-day delivery in major cities, the company said.
Unlike orders made on rivals such as Amazon – which uses a pool of self-employed drivers to courier packages to customers doors – JoyExpress will deliver in branded uniforms and vehicles, “reflecting the company’s commitment to professionalism and customer-first excellence” the company said.
The JoyExpress fleet includes a range of trucks, vans and electric bicycles, operating from more than 60 warehouses and depots across Europe, a number “which will continue to grow as the Joybuy service is rolled out to more cities across the continent”.
“JoyExpress offers Europe a new delivery and logistics choice,” said Axel Eggenwirth, senior director, last mile Europe, Jingdong Logistics.
“With JoyExpress, Joybuy customers will have access to a cutting-edge, world-class fulfilment team for all their delivery needs,” Eggenwirth, a former Amazon delivery partner relations chief, added. “JoyExpress will help deliver Joybuy’s seamless, trusted, and joyful shopping experience to customers in Europe. JoyExpress will offer speed in every step, joy in every box.”
While the initial focus of JoyExpress will be fulfilling orders made on Joybuy, JD.com said “in the future, JoyExpress will offer delivery support to business partners”.
Earlier this week, JD.com confirmed to The Grocer it would be launching its UK e-commerce website and app Joybuy next month.
In April last year, China’s largest retailer by revenue test-launched a beta version of Joybuy in the UK, offering an extensive range of ambient and frozen foods, household, baby, beverages, personal care, beauty, health, pet, and nicotine products from both major brands and Morrisons own label. Joybuy offers same-day delivery for orders received before 11am, and next-day delivery for those made after.
At full launch it would bring “more than 100,000 products from leading household brands to UK shoppers” JD.com said.
Its fast delivery coverage is currently limited to select London postcodes and handful of other areas in Luton, Milton Keynes, Coventry and Preston. It is understood more postcodes will be added as part of the full launch.
Unlike other Chinese e-commerce giants that have arrived in the west, like Temu and Alibaba, Joybuy operates as a retailer, holding stock in its own warehouses, rather than with a marketplace model where goods are shipped directly from brands and manufacturers to consumers.
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