Holland & Barrett has partnered with RiverPay to add mobile payments tool Alipay to its more than 1,600 retail stores around the globe, including 800 in the UK and Ireland.

As part of the agreement, RiverPay has also integrated Alipay into Holland & Barrett’s official online shop.

The partnership builds on a successful pilot over the past two years and will enable Holland & Barrett to tap into Alipay’s over one billion users in China and beyond, capitalising especially on the growing volume and spending power of Chinese tourists abroad.

Higher disposable incomes and increasing health awareness among Chinese consumers have been key drivers in the demand for vitamins and dietary supplements.

The partnership also sees Holland & Barrett automatically enrolled in Alipay’s merchant listings, which instantly increases awareness of retail locations to travellers by pushing notifications to their phones where they can see available products, opening hours and directions.

Yana Geng, business development director of Alipay EMEA, said: “Vitamins and dietary supplements are extremely sought-after among Chinese shoppers, especially when they are travelling overseas – this is because their level of trust in international brands is typically higher than that of domestic brands.”

Share Story: