What happened: JD.com has agreed on a deal that will allow Unilever to use its logistics network to shift goods between warehouses and distribute them to retail partners’ outlets across China.
Why it’s important: Unilever—whose brands include Lipton, Vaseline, Clear, and Lux—previously worked exclusively with logistics companies such as DHL for its China distribution. The tie-up with JD.com spells out the consumer goods giant’s ambition to expand businesses in China to more remote parts of the country. E-commerce giant JD.com, on the other hand, has one of the most robust logistics networks in the country and wants to strengthen its alliances with global retailers like Walmart.