Xin Hua Wang·2025-12-19 11:58Core Viewpoint - The implementation of the new national standard for food delivery platforms aims to end the detrimental "multi-loss" competition characterized by excessive subsidies, which has negatively impacted small businesses, platforms, and consumers alike [2][3][9]. Group 1: New National Standard - The new standard, issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation, mandates that delivery platforms cannot force merchants to participate in promotional activities or bear associated costs, ensuring transparency in fees [3][10]. - Delivery platforms have committed to adhering to the new standard, with companies like JD.com and Meituan emphasizing the importance of fair competition and protecting the rights of consumers, merchants, and delivery personnel [5][10]. Group 2: Impact on Merchants - Many merchants have reported that despite increased order volumes due to subsidies, their actual revenue has decreased, leading to a situation where they experience "growth without profit" [6][9]. - A study from Fudan University revealed that while the number of orders increased by 7% since July, the average revenue per order dropped by 4%, resulting in an overall profit decline of 8.9% for merchants [6][9]. Group 3: Platform Financial Performance - Major delivery platforms have reported significant losses due to the ongoing price wars, with Meituan's marketing expenses rising by 90.9% and operating losses reaching 19.8 billion yuan [8][9]. - Alibaba's sales and marketing expenses doubled, leading to an 85% drop in operating profit, while JD.com also faced substantial losses attributed to increased promotional spending [8][9]. Group 4: Market Dynamics and Consumer Impact - The price wars have created a "siphoning effect," where consumers are drawn to subsidized merchants, adversely affecting those who do not participate in the subsidy wars [9][10]. - Experts warn that the ongoing competition is leading to a decline in product quality, as businesses are forced to cut costs to survive, ultimately harming consumer interests [9][10]. Group 5: Regulatory Measures - Regulatory bodies are accelerating measures to address the chaos in the food delivery market, including guidelines to prevent platforms from abusing their market position through excessive subsidies [10][11]. - Recommendations include ensuring that small merchants retain pricing power and that platforms do not impose undue financial burdens on them [10][11].