Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-10-17 13:38Core Insights - The restaurant industry is entering a "super cost-performance era," characterized by heightened competition and changing consumer demands for value [2][4] - Meituan announced an additional investment of 2.8 billion yuan to support restaurant merchants, focusing on profit retention and healthy development [3][4] Investment and Support Initiatives - Meituan's new initiatives include a 2 billion yuan support fund primarily for takeout businesses, 300 million yuan for innovative store models, and 500 million yuan for "bright kitchen" infrastructure [3] - The company has already launched a support plan for small and medium-sized merchants, covering 360,000 restaurant businesses [3] Market Dynamics and Competition - The overall growth rate of the domestic restaurant market is slowing, with average customer spending returning to 2015 levels, while the number of restaurants has surged, leading to oversupply and intensified competition [4][6] - Major internet platforms, including JD and Alibaba's Taobao, are aggressively entering the takeout market, increasing competition through substantial subsidies and promotions [6][7] Business Strategy and Performance - Meituan is focusing on long-term operational strategies, emphasizing the importance of attracting customers to physical stores and improving operational efficiency [5][6] - The company has seen significant growth in its satellite store model, with over 1,400 new satellite stores opened by Haidilao, and an average return on investment period of 6-8 months for these stores [5][6] Future Outlook and Expansion - Meituan plans to expand its instant retail business, leveraging its supply chain and delivery network to explore new retail formats [7][8] - The company aims to create synergies between high-frequency delivery services and low-frequency e-commerce sales, positioning itself competitively in the broader local lifestyle market [8]