Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-08-05 22:21Core Viewpoint - The takeaway from the news is that the food delivery industry is transitioning from a price war to a focus on merchant value, with platforms like Meituan initiating support programs for small and medium-sized businesses to promote healthy growth and competition [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Changes - Meituan has launched a support plan for small and medium-sized merchants, aiming to distribute financial aid to over 100,000 restaurants by the end of the year, with individual support reaching up to 50,000 yuan [1][2]. - Major food delivery platforms, including Meituan, Ele.me, and JD.com, have collectively announced a commitment to eliminate harmful subsidies and promote competition based on quality and service rather than price [1][4]. - The shift in competition dynamics is characterized by a move from "low-price competition" to "merchant value competition," indicating a significant change in the industry's competitive landscape [1][4]. Group 2: Meituan's Initiatives - Meituan's support plan builds on a previous 1 billion yuan initiative, which has already benefited over 300,000 restaurants, with nearly half reporting significant increases in order volume [2]. - The company plans to enhance its support by providing infrastructure upgrades, digital operation tools, and promoting dine-in consumption through exclusive offers [2]. - Meituan aims to help merchants focus on product and service quality, distancing them from the pressures of low-price competition [2]. Group 3: Competitor Responses - Other platforms are expected to follow Meituan's lead in increasing support for merchants, as the competitive pressure from Alibaba and JD.com intensifies [3]. - JD.com has introduced a "Dish Partner" recruitment plan, committing to invest over 10 billion yuan to support the development of high-quality dishes and restaurants [5]. - Taobao's flash purchase service reported significant growth in orders from small merchants, indicating a positive trend in the market for quality-focused offerings [4][5].