The pet industry in China is undergoing a significant shift as pet owners increasingly seek out functional pet food options. Recently, at the second Pet Nutrition and Health Technology Innovation Forum hosted by JD Pet and Solid Gold Pet in Beijing on July 6th, it was revealed that the search volume for functional pet food keywords on JD.com has skyrocketed. The search volume for functional pet food keywords surged 80 times compared to last year, indicating the rising popularity of pet food with specific functions among Chinese pet owners, including weight management, gut health, and improved coat quality.
Sales Growth of Functional Pet Food on JD Pet
JD Pet’s sales data for the first half of this year indicate significant growth in immune-boosting kitten food, with sales increasing by 297% compared to last year. Probiotic cat food also saw a 200% increase in internal searches on the platform.
Science-based Nutrition Guidelines
During the forum, experts from the Animal Nutrition Branch of the China Animal Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Association emphasized the crucial role of the immune system in overall pet health. They also highlighted the limited knowledge and misconceptions many pet owners have regarding pet food, which can lead to weakened immune systems and health issues for their beloved pets. In response to this challenge, Solid Gold has partnered with JD Pet to release the “Expert Guidelines on Immune Nutrition for Dogs and Cats.” This collaborative effort aims to bridge the information gap and provide professional, science-backed advice on enhancing pet immune health for Chinese consumers.
Success of New Product Launches
Solid Gold and JD Pet jointly launched a new pet food product this year, featuring fresh salmon ingredients and omega for improved fur health. Within just four months, it became one of the top 20 bestselling cat food options on JD.com. Additionally, a nutrient-boost meal topper achieved over 300% growth in transaction volume from March to June.
Enhancing Resources, Users, and Operations
JD Pet announced three integrated strategies during the forum to support brands and merchants in reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and driving growth. Initiatives such as flash sales, live-streaming events, and curated collections are being implemented to provide an engaging shopping experience for pet owners. JD Pet also leverages its pet users’ membership system to offer personalized shopping experiences and enhance brand-customer engagement.
JD Pet’s Vision to Omni-channel
Lu Liu, the head of JD Pet, emphasized the company’s commitment to leading industry trends and promoting high-quality growth. JD Pet has implemented plans to introduce trendy products, support trending brands, and expand into popular channels. By providing comprehensive online and offline channel solutions, JD Pet aims to help pet brands thrive in the dynamic Chinese market.
Beijing/Bonn, February 26, 2026: JD.com, Inc., China’s largest retailer by revenue, and DHL Group, the world’s largest logistics provider, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to support German brands’ growth in China and strengthen their presence in European markets through JD.com’s European retail platform, Joybuy. The MoU was signed at JD.com’s headquarters in Beijing.
DHL and JD.com have agreed to collaborate on innovative logistics and e-commerce initiatives, aiming to create seamless, integrated solutions that better connect brands, merchants, and consumers across both continents. Taking advantage of DHL’s extensive global logistics infrastructure and JD.com’s e-commerce ecosystem, the partnership creates new opportunities for German brands to expand internationally. It further strengthens DHL’s position as the leading logistics partner for brands in Europe, while reinforcing JD.com’s role as a trusted e-commerce gateway for global brands.
From left to right: Tobias Meyer, CEO, DHL Group; Dongming Wu, CEO, DHL Express China; Eric Zheng, Head of Global Service, JINGDONG Logistics; Sandy Xu, CEO, JD.com.
Lowering Barriers for German Brands Entering the Chinese Market
Under the MoU aimed at promoting German brands, DHL will introduce them to JD.com, helping German businesses expand their presence in the Chinese market. By engaging JD.com’s cross-border e-commerce business, JINGDONG Cross-border, German brands can sell directly to more than 700 million Chinese consumers on JD.com, without a physical presence or legal entity in China.
By combining the strengths of DHL and JD.com, German brands gain access to a seamless, one-stop solution for entering the Chinese market. DHL and JINGDONG Logistics, JD.com’s logistics arm, will collaborate to design and provide end-to-end integrated logistics solutions, enhancing the overall fulfilment experience from Europe to China. The solution will allow merchants to benefit from a preferential customs duties and VAT scheme for direct B2C shipments, lowering such costs substantially compared to conventional importation.
In addition, JD.com also offers a full range of e-commerce capabilities, including operations, product selection, consumer insights, marketing tools, and more. Combined with DHL’s decades of experience in international shipping and trade facilitation, this creates a uniquely powerful ecosystem for brands expanding into China.
Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group, said: “This partnership will enable a solution that helps DHL customers in Germany and Europe in accessing the vast China market. We combine four elements in a unique solution: the global strength of DHL, the enormous reach of the JD.com platform, a preferential import scheme for B2C shipments and the great fulfillment and delivery capabilities of JD.com in China. The combination of our logistics expertise and JD.com’s established e-commerce capabilities will provide great benefits for German brands to expand internationally through scalable pathways and innovative tools that help merchants connect with consumers in the best possible way.”
Sandy Xu, CEO of JD.com, said: “Many German enterprises have strong products and compelling brand stories. Sustained growth in China requires the right channels and operational infrastructure to directly reach Chinese consumers at scale. Through this MoU with DHL, we aim to combine logistics capabilities, digital infrastructure, and market access to help brands better understand Chinese consumer demand, optimize product positioning and improve go-to-market efficiency, enabling them to focus on long-term growth and brand building.”
As part of this joint initiative, JD.com will also support these German brands in reaching a broader base of European consumers through Joybuy, the company’s new online retail business in Europe. Using its extensive e-commerce experience, Joybuy will provide German enterprises with a new sales channel and expanded retail infrastructure, enabling them to engage more European consumers. This strengthens DHL’s role as the leading enabler of European e-commerce growth, continuously supporting German brands to expand into new markets.
JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: JD and HKEX: 9618), also known as JINGDONG, is a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider. The company’s cutting-edge retail infrastructure seeks to enable consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it. The company has opened its technology and infrastructure to partners, brands and other sectors, as part of its Retail as a Service offering to help drive productivity and innovation across a range of industries. JD.com’s business has expanded across retail, technology, logistics, health, industrials, property development and international business.
JD.com is ranked 44th on the Fortune Global 500 list and is China’s largest retailer by revenue. The company has been listed on NASDAQ since 2014, and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2020. Committed to the principles of customer first, innovation, dedication, ownership, gratitude, and integrity, the company’s mission is to make lives better through technology, striving to be the most trusted company in the world.
DHL – The logistics company for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.
On February 12, 2026, the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute and JD.com, Inc. (also known as JINGDONG) announced a three-year strategic partnership to advance innovation, resilience, and digital transformation across global logistics and supply chains.
The collaboration brings together FII Institute’s global convening platform and investment ecosystem with JD.com’s world-leading capabilities in advanced logistics, digital supply chain management, and smart infrastructure. Through its logistics, technology, and industrial businesses, JD.com will support the deployment of smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable supply chain solutions across key growth markets.
Richard Attias, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Acting CEO of FII Institute, said: “This partnership is about outcomes, not just dialogue. By combining JD.com’s world-class logistics and digital capabilities with FII Institute’s year-round global platforms, we aim to translate ideas into real-world projects that drive productivity, reduce costs, and expand opportunity, advancing our mission of Impact on Humanity.”
Commenting on the partnership, Feng Guo, CEO, JD.com,Middle East, said: “The Middle East is a vital hub in the global supply chain network, and we are deeply committed to supporting its continued growth. Partnering with FII Institute marks an important milestone in our journey to further develop our businesses in the region. Together with FII Institute, we share a vision for innovation and connectivity, driving digital transformation, advancing logistics infrastructure, and empowering businesses of all sizes to thrive.”
Under the partnership, FII Institute and JD.com will spotlight high-impact pilot initiatives across FII’s global platforms, support joint research on resilient and sustainable supply chains, and facilitate collaboration among governments, corporates, and entrepreneurs by connecting them to JD.com’s global logistics and technology ecosystem.
About the FII Institute
The FII Institute is a global nonprofit foundation with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Through its THINK, XCHANGE, and ACT pillars, the Institute fosters great ideas, empowers innovators, and invests in scalable solutions across critical sectors, including AI and robotics, sustainability, healthcare, and education.
About JD.com, Inc.
JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: JD and HKEX: 9618), also known as JINGDONG, has evolved from a pioneering e-commerce platform into a leading technology and service provider with supply chain at its core. JD.com, Inc.’s business has expanded across retail, technology, logistics, healthcare, industrials, property development, and international business. Ranking 44 on the Fortune Global 500, JD.com, Inc. is China’s largest retailer by revenue.