Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-07-08 07:22Core Insights - The summer surge in food delivery orders has been unexpected, with Meituan reaching a peak of over 120 million daily orders on July 5, while Taobao Flash reported over 80 million orders on the same day [1][5][12] - The competition among major players like Meituan, Alibaba, and JD.com is intensifying, focusing on the "instant retail" market, with significant consumer engagement driven by subsidies [1][5][15] - Despite the surge in order volumes, there is a lack of corresponding increase in physical store activity, indicating a potential disconnect between online and offline demand [1][6][12] Company Strategies - Taobao Flash announced a direct subsidy plan of 50 billion yuan over the next 12 months to boost consumer and merchant engagement [5][12] - JD.com has reported that nearly 200 restaurant brands have surpassed one million orders on its platform within four months of launching its food delivery service [5][12] - The competition is characterized by high subsidy levels, raising questions about the sustainability of such strategies and the true demand for instant retail [5][12][15] Market Dynamics - The increase in order volumes is attributed to consumer behavior changes due to hot weather and ongoing platform subsidies [6][12] - The number of cities with daily orders exceeding one million has doubled in the past week, with some cities experiencing order growth of up to 300% [7][12] - The delivery workforce is expanding, with JD.com planning to recruit an additional 150,000 full-time riders [11][12] Future Outlook - The "flash battle" in food delivery is becoming a regular occurrence, with both Meituan and Taobao Flash achieving their order volume goals [12][15] - Analysts suggest that while the current competition is fierce, the long-term impact of subsidies on market structure may be minimal [12][15] - The ongoing battle for market share in instant retail is expected to continue, with companies leveraging their existing logistics and consumer bases to enhance service offerings [15][17]