Temu will supply Europe with food in the future

According to media reports, the Chinese online marketplace Temu wants to massively expand the food business in Europe and sell European food products. "Temu's platform is open to sellers in Austria and other European countries. Most of the food on Temu is offered by local retailers," said the online retailer in response to an APA inquiry. The company did not disclose details about its expansion plans in Austria.

Temu wants to sell food in Europe

According to the German "Lebensmittelzeitung", a newly established European Temu team is currently specifically targeting manufacturers in Europe to expand the range with items such as snacks, sweets, beverages, as well as cosmetics and garden products. The goal is to create an offering "from Europe for Europe".

Temu attracts customers with low prices and offers a wide range of products, from clothing, kitchen or beauty products to electronics. In Europe, 103 million people recently visited the website of the online marketplace per month, and in Austria, according to Temu's transparency report, it was around 1.8 million. The online marketplace does not operate its own warehouse and directly connects Asian manufacturers with buyers worldwide. Consumer advocates warn of lower product quality and safety. The Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor informed in early July: Flip flops sold through Temu were "extremely heavily contaminated with health-hazardous chemicals". From mid-2024, European retailers will also be able to offer their products on Temu.

Currently limited food range in Austria

In Austria, the online marketplace currently has a very limited range in the food sector, mainly selling nuts and pasta. "We employ dedicated teams that manage a variety of categories to further expand the local offering and improve service for European consumers," a Temu company spokesperson told APA. By collaborating with local companies, they aim to "offer an even greater selection, faster deliveries, and products that best reflect local tastes". Temu did not comment on planned food product categories in Austria.

Retailers as well as environmental and consumer advocates in Europe have long been pushing for measures against Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. The Austrian Retail Association warned on Wednesday "once again of massive medium-term risks from Asian discount marketplaces for consumers, the environment, and the European economic location". "The food trade is part of the critical infrastructure, it ensures the local supply for the entire population," said Retail Association Managing Director Rainer Will in a statement. Now "the next wave of Asian discount imports is at the door in this sector". "This is a highly sensitive area where quality, traceability, and safety must not be negotiable," warned Will.

Kircher criticizes "dumping flood of goods" from Asia by Temu, Shein & Co.

EU Member of Parliament Sophia Kircher (ÖVP) also criticized "the dumping flood of goods" from Asia by Temu, Shein & Co. "It displaces local retailers, distorts competition, and far too often these products not only ignore our high European safety and health standards but are truly harmful to health and have serious defects," Kircher is quoted in a statement.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.