Shang Hai Zheng Quan Bao·2026-02-05 17:52Group 1 - Meituan announced the acquisition of Dingdong Maicai's China business for approximately $717 million, which will make Dingdong a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meituan and integrate its financial performance into Meituan's financial statements [2][3] - This acquisition accelerates Meituan's strategy in the instant retail sector and indicates a potential concentration of competition towards leading platforms [2] - Dingdong Maicai, founded in 2017, focuses on the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai markets, utilizing a front warehouse model to deliver fresh produce within 29 minutes [3] Group 2 - Meituan already operates a similar instant retail platform, Xiaoxiang Supermarket, which aims to expand its coverage in major cities across China [4][5] - The acquisition is seen as a move to strengthen Xiaoxiang Supermarket's operations and increase market share in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions [5] - Dingdong Maicai reported a revenue of 6.66 billion yuan and a GMV of 7.27 billion yuan for Q3 2025, with a net profit of 100 million yuan, indicating a net profit margin of 1.5% [3] Group 3 - The instant retail market is becoming increasingly competitive, with major players like Alibaba and JD.com also expanding their presence in this sector [6] - If the acquisition is successful, it may lead to a reshaping of the domestic instant retail landscape, consolidating resources between Xiaoxiang Supermarket and Dingdong Maicai [6][7] - Industry experts suggest that the future of the fresh retail sector will focus on private brand development, online-offline integration, and supply chain capabilities as key competitive factors [7]