Guang Zhou Ri Bao·2025-06-25 06:47Core Viewpoint - The instant retail sector is experiencing significant growth, with major players like Meituan, JD.com, and Alibaba ramping up their strategies to capture market share following the success of the 618 shopping festival, which highlighted the potential of instant retail as a new growth area for e-commerce [1][2][3]. Group 1: Company Strategies - Meituan announced a comprehensive expansion into instant retail, indicating that this retail format aligns better with current consumer demands and logistics infrastructure, aiming to transform the shopping experience from waiting for deliveries to receiving items within 30 minutes [2]. - JD.com has established a new channel division for hotels and restaurants, with its founder emphasizing that profitability in food delivery relies on supply chain efficiency rather than direct sales [2]. - Alibaba's CEO announced the merger of Ele.me and Fliggy into Alibaba's China e-commerce group, positioning it as a direct competitor to JD.com's new travel business [2]. Group 2: Market Performance - The 618 shopping festival marked the first significant participation of instant retail, with JD.com reporting over 25 million daily orders for its delivery service and a 150% year-on-year increase in online orders for JD Seven Fresh [3]. - Meituan revealed that over 100 million users engaged with its flash purchase service during the 618 period, with sales of over 60 product categories doubling compared to the previous year, particularly in high-ticket items [3]. - The consumer demographic for this year's 618 was predominantly younger generations, with a notable shift towards instant retail for high-demand products, as evidenced by the significant increase in night-time orders [3]. Group 3: Industry Insights - Experts suggest that while major companies are currently leading the instant retail charge, the future of this sector will depend on the quality of products offered rather than just platform capabilities [4]. - The shift in consumer habits from traditional e-commerce to instant retail indicates a growing preference for immediate gratification in shopping experiences, which could redefine retail strategies moving forward [4].