JD.Com Is World’s First E-Commerce Business to Deliver Fresh Goods Next Day

(CBN Global) April 1 -- JD.ComInc. [NASDAQ: JD], a major Chinese online retailer, has become the world's first e-commerce business to offer next-day delivery of fresh produce.

The Beijing-based company has launched a service to deliver perishables to cities across China using a cold chain system, a temperature controlled supply chain.

The high cost of cold-chain transportation and distribution represents the greatest barrier for e-commerce traders in developing a fresh goods business, sources told CBN. In most countries, ice and polystyrene containers are used, making it next to impossible to deliver perishables next day. Customer complaints center on timeliness and resulting problems with goods, a fresh produce vendor told CBN.

JD.Com Cold-Chain Logistics will provide end-to-end cold chain services from warehousing, sorting and transportation to terminal distribution, said Mr. Cui Jian, director of Fresh Goods Cold Chain at JD.Com's distribution department.

JD.Com founder Mr. Liu Qiangdong said at thecompany's annual general meetinglast year that in 2016 his firm would invest heavily in setting up a business-to-consumer network that integrates cold storage and freezing capabilities, covering all large and medium-sized cities in China.