Chinese O2O retailer Suning.com says sales from its online platforms and physical stores rose by 24.27 per cent in the third quarter, reaching RMB 171.43 billion (US$24.4 billion). 

The company closed the quarter with 470 million registered members and the number of active monthly users rose by 48 per cent. Suning.com now hosts 8407 self-operated and franchised stores.

Net income attributed to shareholders was RMB 11.9 billion ($1.7 billion)

The company expects to receive a significant boost from the acquisition of an 80-per-cent share in the Carrefour China operations in late September, adding to the previously acquired Wanda department store network. It describes the move as part of a mission to create a multi-platform retail business for China, spanning third-party marketplaces, its own physical stores and its own online offer. 

Following the Carrefour deal, Suning.com has now formed a network comprising Suning supermarkets, offline Carrefour supermarkets, SuFresh boutique supermarkets and Suning Xiaodian (neighborhood convenience stores). More than 200 Carrefour stores will launch a full upgrade by the end of the year. 

“The introduction of Carrefour’s supply-chain capabilities will effectively leverage the advantages of large-scale procurement, and help establish an efficient warehouse allocation system to promote the rapid development of Suning.com’s FMCG categories,” the company said in a statement.

In the prior three quarters, Suning.com increased investment in logistics, technology and in building out other core capacities to lay a solid foundation for growth over the next decade.