CHINESE internet giant Alibaba Group is looking to sell a number of consumer sector assets, including grocery business Freshippo and retailer RT-Mart, sources with knowledge of the situation said. The sale plan comes as Alibaba, under chairman Joe Tsai and newly appointed chief executive Eddie Wu, has shifted focus back to its core profitable e-commerce business model while divesting non-core, loss-making units, said one of the sources. Alibaba has been in talks with strategic and financial investors about these assets, said the sources. The assets also include shopping mall operator Intime Department Store, one of the sources said. Discussions are at an early stage and Alibaba may decide not to proceed, the sources said. Bloomberg reported Thursday that Alibaba is considering selling Intime and has reached out to several firms to gauge their interest in acquiring its department store arm. A spokesperson for Freshippo denied that Alibaba was planning to sell the company and declined to comment further. (SD-Agencies) | 