Metro joins Alibaba in Chinese e-commerce partnership

[GENEVA] Metro AG, Germany's largest retailer, is forming an alliance with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to develop e-commerce on the Chinese online retailer's website.

Metro will sell private-label products to Chinese consumers through Alibaba's site, the companies said Tuesday in a statement. The retailers will also explore ways to cooperate in sourcing and using data.

"Alibaba Group and Metro Group will work together to help more European consumer brands establish fast-track solutions for expanding into the Chinese market," Alibaba Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang said in the statement.

Metro has been expanding in Asia and said last month it's hunting further targets after agreeing to buy Classic Fine Foods Group, a Singapore-based supplier of gourmet products, for as much as US$328 million.

BLOOMBERG