外卖大战，打的根本不是外卖

Core Viewpoint - The recent decline in the Hong Kong stock market, particularly the Hang Seng Tech Index, is attributed to the fierce competition in the food delivery sector among Meituan, Alibaba, and JD.com, leading to significant stock price drops for these companies [1][2][7]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The ongoing food delivery war among Meituan, Alibaba, and JD.com is causing short-term profit losses, which negatively impacts investor sentiment and stock prices [3][5][6]. - The stock prices of Alibaba, JD.com, and Meituan have fallen significantly, with Alibaba nearing its April 7 low and JD.com and Meituan dropping below that level [6][7]. - The competition is not just about food delivery but is fundamentally aimed at capturing market share in the instant retail sector, also known as flash purchase [12][13]. Group 2: Instant Retail Market - Instant retail, or flash purchase, involves consumers ordering daily necessities online for delivery within 30 minutes, a market that has been growing despite challenges in supply chain and delivery capabilities [14][17]. - The instant retail market is currently valued at approximately 500 billion, with Meituan holding a 60% market share, and is projected to grow to 2 trillion by 2030 [29][30]. - Both Alibaba and JD.com are facing growth bottlenecks in their core e-commerce businesses, prompting them to pivot towards instant retail to capture this emerging market [18][19][25]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The competition in food delivery is seen as a necessary step for Alibaba and JD.com to build a user base and reduce delivery costs, which are essential for successfully launching instant retail services [35][41]. - The significant subsidies being offered by Alibaba (500 billion) and JD.com (100 billion) for food delivery are part of their strategy to gain a foothold in the instant retail market [42]. - The outcome of this competition may not be as critical for consumers, who benefit from lower prices, but it poses risks for investors in the short term due to the intense competition and market volatility [45][46].