Zalando Beats Sales Forecasts on AI Shopping
The German online fashion retailer reported third-quarter revenue above analyst expectations and launched an AI-agent platform for buying from other online shops.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Retail
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Zalando's third-quarter revenue grew 5.1% year-on-year to €3.17 billion ($3.55 billion), slightly above the €3.15 billion analysts polled by LSEG expected. The company also launched Zalando Extended, an AI-agent platform that lets users buy from other online shops through the Zalando app.
Why it matters
The results show Zalando's business-to-business services and AI-driven sales tools gaining traction as online retail becomes more competitive. The launch signals a shift toward platforms that aggregate purchases across multiple retailers.
Zalando reported quarterly adjusted operating profit (EBIT) of €106.5 million and B2B revenue growth of almost 28%. The filing does not break out how much of the B2B growth came from AI-agent sales specifically.
The players
Zalando
Zalando is a Berlin-headquartered European online fashion retailer that sells clothing, shoes and accessories from thousands of brands.
The details
Zalando said its strong demand for business-to-business services was tied to its use of AI agents for third-party sales. Its partner business and retail media grew at a double-digit rate, and the company sells clothing and footwear from thousands of brands including Nike, Hugo Boss and Coach.
Timeline
Zalando reported its third-quarter results on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Zalando Extended began as a pilot in collaboration with home retailer Westwing.
The Tech Race
Zalando Extended extends Zalando's marketplace model by routing purchases from other online shops through AI agents on its app. The move positions the retailer to compete with large online platforms that are building agent-based shopping tools.
Shoppers may eventually be able to buy from multiple online stores through one AI-agent interface on Zalando's app. The stub does not specify availability, pricing or which third-party shops will be included.
The takeaway
Growth in B2B services and AI-assisted shopping suggests retailers are increasingly earning revenue from platforms rather than only from direct sales. Readers tracking online retail can watch whether these tools expand beyond the pilot stage.
Further reading
For more on how online sellers are adapting, see Retail.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Global Banking & Finance Review.
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