Core Insights - The "GaoDe Street Ranking" has become a significant recognition for restaurants, driving customer traffic and enhancing visibility in the competitive food industry [2][3][4] Group 1: Impact on Restaurants - The "GaoDe Street Ranking" has led to a notable increase in customer traffic, with some restaurants reporting up to 30% of their patrons coming specifically due to the ranking [2] - Restaurants like "Happy Restaurant" in Zhenjiang have experienced a staggering 187% increase in customer flow since being featured on the ranking [2] - The ranking serves as a new benchmark for restaurant owners in cities like Guangzhou and Chengdu, influencing their perception of their culinary status among consumers [3] Group 2: Customer Engagement and Authenticity - The ranking is based on genuine customer visits, described as a "vote with their feet," which enhances its credibility compared to traditional review systems [4] - GaoDe's initiative has attracted over 40 million users on its first day, establishing it as the largest food review platform in China [4] - The company has implemented a "Good Food Support Plan," providing over 1 billion in subsidies and daily exposure of 50 million to encourage customer visits [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the launch of a new food review app called "Duck Seek" by Meituan, which aims to compete with its own platform, Dazhong Dianping, by focusing solely on food reviews and user-generated content without immediate profit motives [1][3][39]. Group 1: App Overview - Duck Seek is described as a minimalist app currently available only on iOS and limited to the Beijing area, featuring a simple interface with basic functionalities [3][5][24]. - The app includes a restaurant ranking system using a "spoon" rating, where three spoons indicate the best restaurants, contrasting with Dazhong Dianping's more complex rating system [12][14][21]. - The app's unique feature is the "Recommendation Officer" model, where selected food enthusiasts and chefs provide reviews, aiming to ensure quality and authenticity in recommendations [21][34]. Group 2: Market Positioning and Strategy - Duck Seek's operational strategy focuses on building a community around genuine food experiences rather than immediate monetization, with no current profit targets set by Meituan [33][39]. - The app's development reflects a trend among large tech companies to create simplified, ad-free platforms, although the sustainability of such models remains uncertain [29][31]. - The potential for expansion is noted, with plans to roll out the app to ten cities, but concerns about managing content quality and user engagement as the user base grows are highlighted [36][39]. Group 3: Challenges and Future Outlook - The article raises questions about the long-term viability of Duck Seek, given the challenges of maintaining a pure community-driven platform without succumbing to commercial pressures [31][40]. - The success of Duck Seek may depend on Meituan's willingness to invest in the app without immediate returns, which could serve as a brand rehabilitation effort in a saturated market [39].