

Core Viewpoint - The recent "takeout war" between Alibaba and Meituan has intensified, with both platforms issuing substantial discount coupons, leading to a surge in user activity and order volume [1][12]. Group 1: Discount Strategies - Both Alibaba and Meituan released large and high-value takeout coupons, including offers like "spend 25 get 21 off" and "spend 16 get 16 off" [1]. - Some takeout options were available for "zero yuan purchase," showcasing aggressive promotional tactics [2]. Group 2: User Engagement and Platform Performance - Users reported significant engagement, with one coffee order costing only 2.2 yuan and another at 4.2 yuan, both without delivery fees [7]. - A KFC spicy chicken burger was priced under 10 yuan due to the discounts [8]. - The influx of users caused Meituan's platform to experience downtime, with reports of order page lag and coupon usage issues, leading to a server overload [11]. Group 3: Order Volume and Market Dynamics - As of July 5, 2023, Meituan reported over 1.2 billion orders for instant retail, with more than 1 billion being food orders [12]. - The "takeout war" was triggered by Alibaba's announcement of a 500 billion yuan subsidy plan aimed at boosting consumer and merchant engagement through various discounts and incentives [12].