Q: Tell us about Temu?
A: Temu is a global e-commerce platform that connects consumers with millions of independent manufacturers, brands, and sellers.
Launched in the US in September 2022, Temu entered the European market in 2023, and now operates in over 90 markets worldwide.
Temu is committed to providing affordable, high-quality products in over 600 categories, and enabling consumers to live better lives.
Q: How has the online platform evolved since its launch?
A: Temu entered the UK market in April 2023 and has received positive feedback from consumers who appreciate the opportunity to do more with their money.
A study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) found that UK households could save up to £3,000 per year by shopping on direct-from-factory platforms like Temu.
To better serve the UK market, Temu launched its local-to-local initiative last year, inviting UK sellers to join the platform and enabling fulfilment through local warehouses. By the end of 2025, we expect 50% of our UK sales to come from this local-to-local model, offering consumers a wider, more locally tailored selection, faster deliveries, and support for UK businesses.
Q: When did Temu start offering food and drink on its site?
A: Temu recently opened its platform to sellers in the UK and across Europe. We welcome local businesses across all categories, including food and drink.
Currently, 95% of the food products sold on Temu in Europe come from sellers within the region.
Q: How is Temu carving a niche in this space?
A: Temu offers a low-cost channel for sellers to reach new customers and grow their businesses. Local sellers are well-positioned to benefit from Temu’s growing reputation as a destination for both variety and value.
In a recent IPSOS survey, over 80% of UK shoppers recognised Temu as offering substantial value for money, with an estimated average savings of 25% in 2024. Three-quarters of respondents said they were extremely likely to recommend the platform to others.
With a large and engaging consumer base, Temu also enables sellers to expand their reach across Europe and beyond.
Here are some examples of food and drink brands that have done well on Temu:
- Exploded Sweets (UK): A Nottinghamshire-based startup specialising in freeze-dried candy that reached over 20,000 sales after joining Temu.
- OneGum (France): A chewing gum brand backed by professional athletes, using Temu to re-engage with younger, value-driven consumers.
- Don Ibérico (Spain): A third-generation Iberian ham producer that used Temu to launch its premium cured meats online for the first time and reach international markets without sacrificing its artisanal identity.
- More examples include Caffè Barbaro (Italian coffee roaster), All Delicious (Spanish olive oil brand), and Wurstbaron (German sausage maker).
Q: What demand is Temu seeing for ecommerce in the F&B space?
A: We’re seeing growing demand in the food and beverage space as consumers become more comfortable purchasing pantry staples and specialty items online.
Temu’s direct-from-factory model allows producers to offer competitive prices without compromising quality, making food products – ranging from Iberian ham to Neapolitan coffee – accessible. There’s also increasing interest in discovering diverse food and beverage items.
Q: There have been concerns over ecommerce and food fraud – with some critics describing it as the ‘Wild West’ of food. What is Temu doing to ensure its food and drink is authentic and safe to eat for consumers?
A: Temu takes product safety and consumer trust seriously by complying with all applicable laws and regulations in the markets where we operate. We expect the same from our third-party sellers.
All sellers undergo a vetting process and are required to affirm their compliance with relevant product safety and regulatory standards. Temu reviews product listings, maintains continuous monitoring, and takes corrective action when needed.
We also work closely with globally respected testing and certification partners such as Eurofins, TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, SGS, and Bureau Veritas to ensure products meet local regulatory and quality benchmarks.
Q: Temu has seen backlash around claims banking details have been taken – what is its response to these allegations and how it is shoring up its cybersecurity?
A: Temu follows industry-leading practices in data protection and cybersecurity, ensuring that consumers can shop with peace of mind on our platform.
We partner with globally trusted credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard, and our payment system follows industry security standards (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
Temu also deploys TrustedSite Certified Secure, JCB’s J/Secure, Visa 3D Secure, MasterCard ID Check, American Express SafeKey, and Discover/Diners ProtectBuy security protocols to safeguard payment security.
Furthermore, Temu is a member of the Anti-Phishing Working Group dedicated to fighting online fraud and cybercrime.
Q: What is the hope for the future / strategy for growth against big players?
A: Our focus is simple: To support UK businesses while offering consumers more choice and better value. We welcome local manufacturers and brands and hope to serve as a new growth channel for them. We have dedicated teams to help sellers grow their local product offerings and improve service for European consumers.
By the end of this year, we expect half of our UK sales to come from local sellers and local fulfilment. Eventually, we expect up to 80% of our European sales to come from this local-to-local model.
