Xin Lang Ke Ji·2025-07-22 00:04Core Insights - The recent "takeout war" has seen a reduction in subsidy intensity following discussions with major platforms like Ele.me, Meituan, and JD.com [2][12] - Meituan's actual subsidy on July 12 was between 300 million to 400 million yuan, significantly lower than the rumored 800 million to 1 billion yuan, while achieving 150 million orders in a single day [2][3] - Taobao's flash purchase service has shown rapid growth in non-food categories, with specific segments like blind boxes and maternal nutrition products seeing year-on-year increases of 2407% and 820% respectively [2][7] - JD.com has struggled to maintain order growth compared to Taobao's flash purchase, which has nearly matched Meituan's order volume in some cities [2][4] Market Dynamics - Since JD.com announced its entry into the takeout market in February, the competitive landscape has shifted from a "three-horse race" to a "two-horse race" between Meituan and Taobao's flash purchase [2][4] - Meituan's rider capacity and merchant scale provide it with a competitive edge, making it challenging for other platforms to achieve higher order volumes without significant investment in rider capacity and merchant partnerships [5][6] Non-Food Segment Growth - Non-food orders have become a focal point for all platforms, with Meituan reporting over 20 million non-food orders on July 5, and Taobao's flash purchase experiencing rapid growth in this segment [7][8] - The growth in non-food orders allows riders to optimize their delivery schedules beyond traditional meal times, catering to diverse consumer needs [8] Infrastructure and Delivery Models - The instant retail sector has evolved into three main service models: self-operated front warehouses, integrated store-warehouse models, and platform aggregation [9] - Meituan plans to expand its lightning warehouse network to over 100,000 locations within three years, enhancing its delivery capabilities [9] Regulatory Environment - The Chinese Chain Store and Franchise Association has called for the regulation of the instant retail market, urging platforms to cease aggressive price subsidy practices and ensure fair competition [11][13] - The State Administration for Market Regulation has also engaged with major platforms to enforce compliance with e-commerce laws and promote healthy competition [12][13]