#eCommerce The marketplace podcast you didn't know you asked for (just like AI) is back. The Ostrich Report Ep 6 - JD.com Buys Into Germany… What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
This week we put the Ostrich in Ostrich Report by burying our heads deep into one of the most head-scratching deals of the year: JD com spending €2.5B to buy CECONOMY, the German parent company of MediaMarkt Deutschland and Saturn.
Yes, JD dot com, the Chinese giant that was born an online retailer, flirted with marketplace models, wandered into logistics, cloud, and other shiny objects, is now buying two of Germany’s most traditional electronics retailers.
If you think this sounds like Amazon buying RadioShack in 2025, you’re not alone.
💡 Why this matters:
Amazon Germany is the marketplace gorilla, owning the customer relationship and the search bar. JD isn’t walking into an open field, they’re walking into an Amazon-owned parking lot.
Germany’s retail culture is famously conservative. Family-owned businesses, slow digital adoption, and an in-person-first mentality. Perfect conditions for a Chinese e-commerce titan… said no one, ever.
MediaMarkt & Saturn are legacy names with massive store networks. Great for physical reach, but also great for draining cash if the pivot to omnichannel fails.
🎯 Key questions we ask in this episode:
Is JD buying growth or buying a headache?
Will they try to “China-fy” the German market or adapt to it?
Is this a play to hedge against Temu and Shein eating their lunch at home?
If this fails and JD does not have a glowing history of European success what’s Plan B?
Is this a long-term strategic anchor or just an expensive LinkedIn announcement?
🔥 Hendrik Laubscher’s take: This could be the M&A of the year in Europe if it works. But history says Chinese e-commerce players have a tough time in European retail. Logistics strength means nothing if the consumer doesn’t want your basket.
🔥 My take: The boldness is admirable, but so is jumping into the Atlantic in January doesn’t mean it’s sensible. If you’re into deals where corporate strategy meets cultural friction, and you want your retail M&A with a side of sarcasm, Episode 6 delivers.
🎧 Listen here before JD releases a “synergy roadmap” PDF full of clip-art and German buzzwords.
#Ecommerce #Retail #Marketplaces #MergersAndAcquisitions #TheOstrichReport
