Costco Says Will Use Alibaba's Tmall Ecommerce Platform To Open Online Store In China

American retailer Costco Wholesale Corp. said it plans to open an online store in China using the Tmall online marketplace operated by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Aimed at offsetting slowing sales at its home market, the warehouse operator's Tmall store will sell branded products, including food and healthcare products, and own-brand products under the Kirkland Signature private label. Tmall features virtual storefronts and payment platforms for sellers, which encouraged several Western retailers, such as Inditex, Burberry, and ASOS, to join the online marketplace.