Pharmacy Daily | Alibaba opens China’s doors

CHINA'S Alibaba Group cross-border business-to-consumer platform Tmall Global announced Friday that it will collaborate with four of Australia's leading health companies to build the profile of their products amongst Chinese consumers.

Individual agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in Melbourne between Tmall Global and the four companies: Chemist Warehouse, Swisse, Blackmores, and Sanofi Consumer Healthcare.

The Tmall collaborations are expected to build capability in marketing and product traceability, while opening new sales channels for the brands to reach more of China's growing middle class.

In addition to these collaborations, Tmall Global has renewed its strategic cooperation agreement with Chemist Warehouse.

During last year's 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, Chemist Warehouse achieved more than RMB 100 million in gross merchandise volume in a single day.

Australia ranked as the fifth highest gross merchandise volume country on Tmall Global in 2016, with Australian-made and manufactured health and nutrition supplements one of the strongest performing categories.

Speaking at the signing of the ceremony, Maggie Zhou, managing director of Alibaba Group Australia and New Zealand, said: "Australia has an enviable reputation, the products that are made and manufactured in this country are perceived to be clean, safe and healthy.

"By working together to promote our lifestyle and national identity, Australian brands will move a step closer to reaching their export potential in China," Zhou said.

"Australia is the first country to collaborate with like-minded health companies and this model will be closely watched by all of Tmall Global's markets."

Pictured L to R: John Goebel, head of New Channels, Sanofi; Damien Gance, co-founder and partner of Chemist Warehouse; Alibaba Group's md for Australia and New Zealand, Maggie Zhou; Nick Mann, head of sales for Australia and New Zealand, Swisse; Peter Osborne, md (Asia) for Blackmores.