Core Insights - The article discusses Meituan's journey in the instant retail sector, highlighting the challenges and strategies it has employed to navigate this new market [1][2][3] Group 1: Challenges Faced - Meituan's initial attempts in instant retail, particularly in fresh produce delivery, faced significant hurdles due to supply chain issues and a lack of standardization in the domestic market [2][4] - The company spent six years identifying solutions and receiving positive feedback to improve its instant retail offerings [1][5] - Despite some growth in specific categories like flowers and pharmaceuticals, overall performance remained stagnant, with daily orders fluctuating between three to four million [6][7] Group 2: Strategic Developments - Meituan has experimented with various models, including "菜大全" and "美团买菜," but faced limitations in expanding product categories [2][8] - The introduction of "闪电仓" (Lightning Warehouse) has been a pivotal strategy, allowing Meituan to enhance supply and meet consumer demand more effectively [9][10] - By 2024, Meituan plans to significantly increase the number of Lightning Warehouses, aiming for 30,000 locations by October 2024 [10][11] Group 3: Market Positioning - The company is positioning itself as a key player in the instant retail market, with a focus on integrating retail and service sectors [12][13] - Meituan's GTV for instant retail is projected to reach around 250 billion yuan, with Lightning Warehouse contributing significantly to this figure [11][12] - The rise of competitors like Taobao and JD.com in the instant retail space indicates a growing recognition of this market segment's potential [17][18]
美团花七年时间跑出一条新赛道