Business 10 October 2025, 4:05pm

The head of MediaMarkt Hungary addresses Chinese acquisition

Portfolio

The acquisition of a majority stake in MediaMarkt by China's JD.com is not a takeover but a strategic partnership that will accelerate the chain's existing strategy, Gábor Szilágyi, managing director of Media Markt Hungary, told Hungarian business news portal vg.hu. Customers can look forward to faster delivery and more advanced IT solutions, while the brand name and store network will remain unchanged.

This is a strategic partnership,

stated Gábor Szilágyi.

JD.com is China's second-largest e-commerce company and is actively expanding its online and offline presence. Having long planned to enter the European market, MediaMarkt proved to be the ideal partner, given its presence in eleven countries and over a thousand stores.

JD.com has already established its infrastructure in the United Kingdom, Germany and France, complete with its own logistics system and data centres. Acquiring a stake in MediaMarkt is also part of this strategy.

JD.com has “bought into” the company, but it does not intend to amalgamate it; but rather to develop it,

Szilágyi emphasized.

One of the biggest advantages of the Chinese partner is its advanced logistics capabilities.

It can provide next-day delivery throughout China, and this level of logistical precision could bring a new standard to Europe,

the CEO pointed out.

This cooperation will bring concrete benefits for customers, who can expect faster delivery, more advanced IT solutions and a more efficient service. Szilágyi stated emphatically:

There will be no brand or name changes, and none of our stores will close.

An important factor in ensuring stability is that "one of MediaMarkt's major shareholders, the Kellerhals family, will retain its stake in the company", which suggests that other partners also recognise long-term growth opportunities in JD.com's entry.

Szilágyi provided reassurance on the issue of data protection, stating that the two companies do not share their databases.

There will be no shared data warehouse or data flow to China,

he said, adding that both parties strictly comply with European data protection and competition rules.

The process is not yet complete. JD.com has made a public offer to the shareholders of MediaMarkt's parent company, and the German competition authority is in the process of approving the deal. Local authorities in all countries concerned are also conducting their own approval processes.

According to the CEO, the transaction could be completed by the end of the first half of 2026 at the latest.

Szilágyi concluded that JD.com's involvement does not represent a change of direction for MediaMarkt, but rather a confirmation of its strategy. This collaboration offers new opportunities for customers, employees and suppliers, combining the technological expertise of the Chinese partner with MediaMarkt's experience in the European market.