And in 2018, purchased 2.8 billion dollars worth of businesses from Nestle — its largest competitor, to deeper entrench its hold on the global food market.
It was clear, therefore, that part of the overall strategy isn't just selling huge quantities of stuff, it was to develop completely new stuff, targeted at selecting consumers based on Alibaba's vast datasets.
It and Chinese dairy firms have introduced special powdered milk products with health benefits for seniors including preventing muscle atrophy, improving sleep and helping digestion.
Corporate giants like Nestle and the food company Danone are joining in the fight, saying they will switch to completely biodegradable packaging by 2020.
Confronted with this evidence, several bottled-water manufacturers including Nestle and Coca-Cola undertook their own studies using the same methodology.