外卖大战再掀高潮：“免费奶茶”热搜第一 有商家周六爆单10倍 骑手凌晨送货忙

Core Viewpoint - The competition in the food delivery market is intensifying, with major players like Meituan, Taobao, and Ele.me launching aggressive promotional campaigns, leading to record-high order volumes despite concerns over profitability [1][6]. Group 1: Promotional Activities - Meituan initiated a promotional campaign offering free drinks from popular brands, resulting in a significant increase in order volume, with over 1.5 billion orders on July 12, surpassing 1.2 billion from the previous week [2][6]. - Many users shared their experiences of redeeming free drinks on social media, creating a viral effect that boosted Meituan's visibility and engagement [2]. - The store manager of a popular tea brand reported an order volume exceeding 2,000 on July 12, compared to the usual 200 on weekends, indicating a substantial impact from the promotions [2][5]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Ele.me and Taobao are expected to respond with their own promotional activities, indicating a competitive back-and-forth in the market [3][5]. - Despite the entry of JD.com into the food delivery sector, its presence is perceived as weak compared to Meituan's market dominance [5]. - The overall order volume for major brands in the market has significantly increased, with one tea brand reporting 800 orders on July 12, up from 400 the previous week [5]. Group 3: Financial Implications - Meituan's delivery riders reported a 111% increase in daily income during weekends, with many earning over 500 yuan, despite the challenges posed by increased order volumes [6]. - Analysts express concerns that aggressive subsidies in the competitive landscape may impact profitability for leading platforms [7]. - Despite record-high order volumes, stock prices for Alibaba, Meituan, and JD.com have declined, reflecting investor concerns about profitability in the face of rising competition [6].