Sainsbury’s has confirmed that it’s in discussions with JD.com, one of China’s largest retailers, about a potential sale of Argos. The announcement follows

recent media speculation, but the company stressed that no deal has been reached yet and there’s no certainty one will go ahead.

Argos is the UK’s second-largest general merchandise retailer, best known for its click-and-collect service. With over 1,100 collection points across the country and one of the most visited retail websites in the UK, it remains a major player in British shopping habits.

Sainsbury’s has been driving a “More Argos, More Often” strategy to strengthen the business. However, a deal with JD.com could supercharge Argos’ transformation. JD.com brings global expertise in retail, technology, and logistics and would invest to fuel Argos’ growth and improve the shopping experience for customers. Any deal would likely include commitments to protect Argos’ customers, employees, and partners.

JD.com is a giant in global retail. Ranked 44th in the Fortune Global 500, it is China’s largest retailer by revenue, with 600 million active customers. The company, which reported revenues of \$158.8 billion (£128.5 billion) in 2024, operates across multiple sectors including retail, technology, logistics, health, property, and international trade.

Founded as an e-commerce platform, JD.com has grown into a major technology-driven supply chain business. It has been listed on NASDAQ since 2014 and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2020. Today, its ecosystem employs around 900,000 people.

For now, Sainsbury’s has made it clear: discussions are ongoing, but nothing has been finalized. More updates will follow if and when an agreement is reached. Photo by Sebastian Ballard, Wikimedia commons.