Costco

US-based discounted supermarket chain CostCo has announced it will open an online store in China.

Using Alibaba’s Tmall Global, the membership-only warehouse chain will allow customers in mainland China to access its produce.

On offer will be Costco’s food and healthcare lines, as well as its own Kirkland Signature-branded produce, using Tmall’s well-established logistics network to cut down on delivery times.

“Costco sees tremendous growth opportunities in China, especially in light of Chinese consumers’ increasing appetite for imported products,” Jim Murphy, Costco executive VP said in a company statement.

Produce will be selected according to data collated by Alibaba and Costco’s in-house analysis of Chinese consumers, and aim to introduce new brands and products.

The expansion is part of a push to increase Costco’s online presence in light of slowing growth at its US stores, according to Reuters.

Costco’s online stores operate in the US, Canada the UK and Mexico, with on-the-ground stores set up in Japan, Taiwan and Korea.