Core Insights - The article discusses the competitive landscape of the instant retail app sector, highlighting significant growth in user engagement and the emergence of various operational models among key players [2][3][9]. Group 1: Market Growth and User Engagement - As of May 2025, the monthly active user base for instant retail apps reached 551 million, marking a 6% year-on-year increase, with fresh food e-commerce apps growing by 15% to 128 million users [3][12]. - The competition has intensified with major players like Meituan, Taobao, and JD.com restructuring their services to enhance user engagement, particularly in the "30-minute living circle" for food delivery [3][25]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Three main operational models have emerged: "front warehouse self-operated," "store-warehouse integrated self-operated," and "platform aggregation," each catering to different user needs [23]. - The overlapping user base among JD.com, Meituan, and Ele.me reached 77.61 million, a 32.4% increase year-on-year, indicating a shift towards multi-platform usage among consumers [27]. Group 3: User Demographics and Preferences - The user demographic is skewing younger, with users born after 2000 showing a strong preference for food delivery services, while users from the 90s and 00s account for over 55% of the fresh food e-commerce app market [33][35]. - The lower-tier market is becoming a new growth engine, with Ele.me and Meituan's combined user base in this segment reaching 5.167 million, reflecting a 2.6% year-on-year growth [37]. Group 4: Merchant and Rider Dynamics - The demand for instant delivery services is driving an increase in merchant participation, with Meituan's merchant app reaching nearly 17 million monthly active users [44]. - The competition for riders is intensifying, with JD.com's Dada Express leading the market with over 6 million active users, a 368% increase year-on-year [52][56].