Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-08 11:44Core Insights - The article discusses the rapid disruption of Meituan's monopoly in China's food delivery market, initiated by JD.com and Ele.me, with significant financial backing and strategic investments [3][28] - A four-dimensional resource capability framework is proposed to analyze the competitive dynamics among major internet platforms in the food delivery sector [3][28] Market Dynamics - Starting in February 2025, a competitive battle emerged in the food delivery market, leading to a significant decline in Meituan's market share from 85% to 65% by August 2025, while Ele.me's share increased from 15% to 28%, and JD.com captured 7% [3][28] - By November 2025, Meituan's market share further dropped to 50%, with the Alibaba ecosystem (Ele.me + Taobao Flash Purchase) rising to 42%, indicating a narrowing gap [3][28] Resource Capability Framework - The article constructs a framework based on "capital + technology + operations + ecosystem" to explain how challengers can disrupt established market leaders [3][28] - The framework emphasizes the need for a multi-dimensional and high-matching resource capability system to effectively compete against dominant players like Meituan [38] Competitive Strategies - JD.com and Ele.me launched substantial subsidy programs, with JD.com initiating a "100 billion subsidy" plan to attract riders and merchants, while Ele.me also announced significant financial support [40][41] - Both challengers leveraged their existing user bases and data assets to enhance their marketing and operational efficiencies, with JD.com focusing on high-value consumer segments and Ele.me utilizing Alibaba's extensive data resources [41] Operational Efficiency - Meituan's operational efficiency, with an average delivery time of 34 minutes and a cost of 7 yuan per delivery, posed a significant challenge to the operational capabilities of JD.com and Ele.me [42] - JD.com managed to reduce delivery times to under 30 minutes in key cities, while Ele.me maintained similar efficiency levels, highlighting the importance of logistics and rider management in competitive positioning [42] Ecosystem Synergy - The integration of Ele.me with Taobao creates a synergistic flow of users, enhancing Ele.me's potential as a traffic entry point for Alibaba's instant retail business [44] - The competition in the food delivery market has led to improved conditions for merchants, riders, and consumers, fostering a more balanced ecosystem [45][46] Conclusion - The competitive landscape in the food delivery market is evolving, with significant implications for operational strategies, market share dynamics, and the overall ecosystem, suggesting a shift towards healthier competition and innovation [45][46]