Core Insights - The competition in the food delivery industry has intensified since 2025, with major players like JD, Meituan, and Alibaba (Ele.me) engaging in a fierce battle characterized by subsidies and order competitions, focusing on the "last mile" delivery [2] Market Overview - The Chinese food delivery market has seen significant growth, with online food delivery users reaching 545 million and daily spending nearing 3.3 billion yuan. The market size is projected to grow from approximately 1.64 trillion yuan in 2024 to 1.96 trillion yuan by 2027 [3] - Meituan is expected to hold a 65% market share in 2024, while Ele.me is projected to have 33%, with other platforms collectively holding only 2% [3] Consumer Demand Trends - There is a shift in consumer expectations towards "instant gratification," with demands for faster delivery times extending beyond food to all retail categories. This change is reshaping the underlying logic of the retail industry [3] Competitive Strategies - Meituan has demonstrated its strength with a record-breaking daily order volume of 1.2 billion on July 5, 2025, and further increasing to 1.5 billion orders shortly after, maintaining an average delivery time of 34 minutes [5] - JD is leveraging its "warehouse and distribution integration" to enhance its local delivery capabilities, achieving a daily order volume of 25 million by June 18, 2025, and launching initiatives to support brands in reaching significant order volumes [6] - Alibaba's acquisition of Ele.me has positioned it as a core player in local instant delivery, with the launch of Taobao Flash Purchase leading to significant order growth and a daily order volume surpassing 80 million [7] Market Dynamics - The food delivery market is expected to evolve into a "layered satisfaction" structure rather than a winner-takes-all scenario, with platforms like Meituan and Ele.me dominating instant delivery scenarios [8] - For immediate needs, platforms with dense delivery networks will maintain a competitive edge, while JD and Meituan will continue to compete in semi-instant scenarios [9] - Traditional e-commerce remains strong in long-cycle scenarios, particularly for large appliances and home improvement products, where consumers prioritize installation and after-sales service over speed [10] Future Outlook - The competition for efficiency in the "last mile" delivery will persist, as consumer expectations for rapid delivery become ingrained. Companies that can quickly adapt to and meet these evolving demands will secure a competitive advantage in the retail landscape [10]