Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-12-05 22:59Core Insights - The article warns about the potential bubble in the instant retail sector in China, particularly in the context of the fierce competition among major players like Alibaba, JD, and Meituan, which is reminiscent of the warnings regarding AI bubbles in the U.S. [1] Financial Performance - Alibaba reported a revenue of 247.795 billion yuan for the latest quarter, a 5% year-on-year increase, with its instant retail segment generating 22.906 billion yuan, up 60% due to the launch of Taobao Flash Purchase [3][4] - Meituan's revenue reached 95.5 billion yuan, a 2% increase, but its core local business segment saw a decline in revenue to 67.4 billion yuan, down from 69.373 billion yuan year-on-year, leading to a loss of nearly 14.1 billion yuan [4] - JD achieved a revenue of 299.1 billion yuan, a 14.9% increase, but its net profit fell by 56% to 5.8 billion yuan, primarily due to strategic investments in new business areas, including instant delivery [4] Marketing Expenditure - The three giants collectively "burned" nearly 60 billion yuan in the latest quarter, with significant increases in marketing expenses: Meituan's rose to 34.3 billion yuan (up 90.9%), Alibaba's to 66.496 billion yuan (up 104.8%), and JD's to 21.1 billion yuan (up 110.5%) [6][4] Competitive Landscape - The intense competition in the instant retail sector has led to a "price war," characterized by low prices and poor quality, which is viewed as a form of unhealthy competition that does not create real value for the industry [7] - Research indicates that while large subsidies have increased order volumes, they have not translated into increased revenue for merchants, leading to a situation where merchants face declining profits [9][8] Regulatory Response - The State Administration for Market Regulation has intervened, urging platforms like Meituan, Ele.me, and JD to regulate promotional activities and engage in rational competition to foster a healthier ecosystem for consumers, merchants, and delivery personnel [9] Future Outlook - As the three giants plan to reduce their subsidy expenditures in the upcoming quarter, it is anticipated that heavily subsidized products will become less common, prompting a return to a focus on quality and user experience rather than just price [11][12] - The article emphasizes the need for companies to invest in technology and ecosystem development rather than relying solely on subsidies to achieve sustainable growth [12][10]