Core Viewpoint - JD.com is making significant moves in the prepared food sector by establishing a dedicated business unit for prepared foods, indicating a strategic shift towards developing its own brand in this category [2][4]. Group 1: Strategic Developments - JD.com has officially formed a prepared foods business unit, which is on par with other major divisions within its retail structure, and is led by Andy Tian, reporting directly to CEO Xu Ran [2]. - The establishment of this independent unit marks a strategic upgrade, shifting focus from brand partnerships to the development of proprietary products [4][6]. - JD.com has been involved in the prepared food sector since 2017, gradually building partnerships with well-known restaurant brands and expanding its product offerings [3][6]. Group 2: Market Position and Growth Potential - The prepared food market in China has been growing rapidly, with a projected market size of 4.85 trillion yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 33.8% [8]. - JD.com aims to leverage its supply chain capabilities to enhance its prepared food offerings, with plans to create 20 brands with annual sales exceeding 100 million yuan and 5 brands exceeding 500 million yuan within three years [6][8]. - The shift towards prepared foods is seen as a way to tap into new profit margins, as these products can achieve over 30% gross margins, contrasting with traditional retail models [7]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other retail platforms, such as Hema and Dingdong Maicai, have also been developing their own prepared food brands, indicating a competitive landscape where self-branded prepared foods are becoming a key growth area [8]. - JD.com's entry into this market aligns with its founder Liu Qiangdong's strategic principle of focusing solely on supply chain-related businesses [8].