Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-07-14 10:47Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the detrimental effects of aggressive subsidy wars among food delivery platforms on restaurants, emphasizing that while customers benefit from discounts, it is the merchants who bear the brunt of the costs, leading to a precarious situation for many businesses [3][5][10]. Group 1: Impact on Restaurants - Restaurants are facing multiple survival challenges, including reduced dine-in traffic due to policies limiting alcohol consumption, competition from group buying and live streaming, and significant customer traffic loss to delivery platforms [3][7]. - The financial burden on restaurants is exacerbated by fixed costs such as ingredients, rent, labor, energy, taxes, and high service and traffic fees imposed by platforms [3][7][10]. - A specific example illustrates the strain: for a 42.9 yuan order, the merchant bears a 27.9 yuan subsidy, while the platform only contributes 14.99 yuan, leaving the merchant with minimal revenue [6][7]. Group 2: Call for Action - The article calls for platforms to stop coercing merchants into participating in massive subsidies, which can lead to a decline in quality and safety standards in the industry [10][11]. - It advocates for the regulation of subsidy wars to prevent unfair competition and market disruption, urging for a return to rational subsidy practices and a reduction in platform fees [10][11]. - The need for insurance and welfare benefits for full-time and freelance delivery riders is emphasized, highlighting the importance of recognizing their contributions and ensuring their well-being [10][11]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The article notes that the current subsidy strategies are creating a distorted pricing system, which could lead to the closure of quality restaurants and a decline in food safety [8][10]. - It warns that the aggressive competition among major platforms is turning countless merchants into mere processing units for delivery services, undermining the traditional dining experience [8][9]. - The overall health of the restaurant industry is at risk, with potential widespread unemployment among restaurant workers if businesses continue to fail [9][10].