e-Commerce & more I 2nd to 8th Nov - #70

Ecommerce Takes off!!

Are ecommerce companies taking over the sky?? The big news of the week is the expansion of Amazon & Mercado Libre Air Network capabilities!!

Amazon launch Air network in Europe, Mercado Libre launch Air network in Mexico, Ocado buys Kindred & Haddington Robotics Solutions, Ahold Delhaize launch Marketplaces powered by Mirakl, Alibaba & Richemont Invest in Luxury Marketplace Farfetch, Jumia’s launch logistics services, Uber scales up grocery delivery, StartUp of the week: GoPuff is acquiring BevMo

Amazon launches its first Amazon Air regional hub in Europe 

While the airline industry is suffering its worst crisis ever on the passenger side, Ecommerce volume could save them?

Amazon continue to invest in its own air cargo network starting now operations in Europe. With this new hub in Leipzig (also where DHL hub is), the company's has now more than 70 aircraft in it’s fleet.

With these planes Mercado Libre will deliver packages in less than 24 hours

Amazon is not the only one building an Ecommerce Air Network, Mercado Libre the Latin America ecommerce leader just announced and investment of more than one billion pesos in the "Meli Air" aircraft fleet, ground vehicles and last mile centers.

This investment will allows the company to reach the entire Mexican territory in 24 hours. It’s all about Speed, Speed, Speed!

British online supermarket Ocado acquires two U.S. robotics start-ups

Online supermarket Ocado has acquired San Francisco-headquartered robotics firm Kindred Systems for $262 million and Las Vegas firm Haddington Dynamics for $25 million. While ecommerce is exploding, all the key players are investing heavily in their automation & robotics agenda. The combination of technologies acquired will enhance robotic arm (Haddington) & PickPack process (Kindred) capabilities for the online supermarket. 

Big Changes Coming to Ahold Delhaize USA

The world of platform! Ahold Delhaize (one of the largest grocery chain) is partnering with third-party marketplace Mirakl to launch its own marketplace and provide an additional 80,000 to 100,000 food and general merchandise offerings to shoppers.

We have seen multiple organization launching marketplaces models in the last years and we will continue to see more coming.

Alibaba and Richemont to Invest $1.1 Billion in Luxury Marketplace Farfetch

Alibaba and Richemont will invest $1.1 billion in online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch. Why would the largest ecommerce company and and one of the most iconic luxury brand partner in this deal? Reason is very simple: China online demand for luxury goods is boominggggggg!

Jumia’s logistics services are now open to third party businesses

Jumia is also called the “Amazon of Africa” and like Amazon, the company is planning to use its technology and logistics solutions and offer them to 3rd party companies. This is definitely not new or different than what Alibaba, JD.com, Amazon are doing already!

Uber scales up grocery delivery operations to compete with Instacart, Shipt

Uber continue to convert its core business into delivery business instead of ride hailing. This time they are pushing stronger on the grocery delivery to compete directly with Instacart, GoPuff & Shipt. Online Grocery is the biggest winner of the pandemic and stay at home economy so no surprise on Uber also wanting to ride the wave of online grocery explosion.

GoPuff is acquiring BevMo, an alcoholic beverage chain, for $350 million.

Consolidation in the war for on-demand delivery continues! Softbank-backed delivery startup goPuff enters the California market with its deal to buy alcoholic beverage chain BevMo! “The agreement also means goPuff, which currently provides on-demand delivery of household goods in 500 cities, will significantly expand its infrastructure with the addition of BevMo!’s 161 stores in California, Arizona, and Washington”

Enjoy, cheers

Nabil