EXCLUSIVE: JD.com set to fulfil plans for urban logistics network in London
Busy Chinese e-tailer and logistics conglomerate JD.com is set to its fulfil plans for a London wide urban logistics network with a reported 13 units, acquired, under offer or in solicitors hands.
By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters
THE COMPANY is actively seeking a number of delivery station managers and supervisors at various locations in London with salaries ranging between £30,000 – £60,000 a year to support the launch of its Joybuy e-commerce platform which had a soft launch in the UK in April this year.
The company said on its website: “Joybuy is JD.com’s European full-category online retail brand designed to bring customers a faster, more convenient, and cost-effective shopping experience. Offering same-day and next-day delivery across the UK, Joybuy combines speed, reliability, and affordability to meet the needs of modern shoppers.
“With an extensive range of high-quality products, competitive prices, and customer-first services including free shipping on first orders, exclusive discounts, and 24/7 live support, Joybuy is redefining the way the world shops online.”
It has been reported that its London delivery network, which focuses on last-mile delivery, aiming for faster, smarter, and more sustainable deliveries within the Capital, will also include the possible use of underground logistics solutions to optimise space and efficiency. The delivery stations range between 3,000 – 5,000 ft2 with locations in Camden, Croydon, and Dartford identified.
JD.com recently secured 531,519 ft2 in two units at PLP’s 1.06 million ft2 PLP MK scheme in Milton Keynes as well as space in Dunstable with the acquisition of Oxenwood’s OXW277 a 277,628 ft2 warehouse. JD.com has another distribution centre in Coventry.
Last year Logistics Matters revealed that JD.com was looking to set up its own UK delivery network with the announcement that it was seeking a Logistics & Last Mile Network Design manager to ‘lead the design and implementation of an efficient, scalable, and customer-centric delivery network’ in the UK through a recruitment advertisement on LinkedIn.
It is widely believed that JD.com is looking to rival Amazon both here in the UK and in Europe with its reported goal to double its overseas warehouse capacity between 2023 and 2025. According to Statista research the company had 1,600 warehouses in 2023.
Earlier this year JD.com secured offices at 20 Greycoat Place in London to act as its European headquarters.
Logistics Matters has contacted JD.com for confirmation.
