World’s biggest retailer looking for Midlands sites

The world’s biggest retailer could be coming to the East Midlands, according to reports this morning.

Chinese-based online retailer Alibaba is looking for a 600,000 sq ft warehouse that it can turn into a distribution hub for its logistics arm 4PX Express.

Reports in Property Week suggest that Alibaba has appointed Aspect Property Consultants to look for units which fit its criteria across the Midlands.

4PX Express already operates a warehouse at the Prologis Park Dunstable, but Alibaba wants to ramp up its UK presence in an attempt to try and challenge the dominance of Amazon.

Alibaba part-owns 4PX Express, which is now China’s biggest ecommerce exporters of goods.

Alibaba was founded in 1999. Last year the firm posted revenues of £11.32bn.