Core Insights - The report analyzes user behavior changes, market dynamics, and industry trends in the context of subsidy competition among Meituan, Alibaba, and JD.com in the food delivery and instant retail sectors [1][2]. Policy Insights - JD.com entered the food delivery market in early 2025, triggering a fierce subsidy war with initiatives like zero-cost purchases and discount coupons, significantly boosting short-term consumer spending. However, as regulatory policies emerged, the subsidy boom began to wane [2][6]. Market Insights - Subsidies became the primary tool for platforms to acquire and engage users, leading to increased order frequency, category exploration, and platform-switching intentions. As subsidies diminish, competition is expected to shift from price wars to value-based competition [3][5]. User Insights - Active users exhibit high price sensitivity and low platform loyalty, frequently switching platforms and stacking discounts. With reduced subsidies, users are raising their expectations regarding price, service, and product quality. There is a strong demand for rapid delivery, healthy meals, and innovative product categories, with users willing to pay for these services [4][5][20]. Future Trends - The industry is transitioning from a "subsidy-driven" model to a "value-driven" approach, necessitating platforms to build sustainable competitive advantages through service innovation, product quality, and refined operations. User demographics and consumption habits are evolving, pushing the industry into a new phase of high-quality development [5][6]. User Demographics - The majority of users are concentrated in first-tier and new first-tier cities (nearly 60%), with 40.85% from second-tier and lower cities, indicating widespread penetration of food delivery services across various city levels [7]. - 74.5% of users are office workers, with over 80% having a disposable income of over 5,000 yuan per month [9]. - Users aged 26-40 make up 64.10% of the respondents, with the 31-35 age group being the largest segment at 27.72% [10]. Consumption Behavior - Food delivery and instant retail have become integral to daily life, with nearly 70% of users placing orders three or more times a week. The primary motivations for ordering include convenience and time constraints [16][18]. - 82.47% of users express strong reliance on food delivery platforms, confirming their essential role in daily life [20]. Impact of Subsidy War - During the subsidy war, user penetration rates for platforms like Meituan (81.10%), JD.com (69.76%), and Taobao (66.46%) exceeded 60%, with users averaging 3.86 platforms [22]. - The subsidy war increased users' willingness to try new platforms, with 55.37% trying JD.com for the first time during this period [24]. Post-Subsidy War Dynamics - After the subsidy war, user retention rates began to show differentiation, with 67.61% of users planning to retain Meituan, while 47.24% and 45.66% expressed intentions to keep using JD.com and Ele.me, respectively [26]. - 52.61% of users have no plans to uninstall any platforms, indicating that food delivery services have become deeply integrated into daily life [28]. User Sensitivity to Subsidies - Over 90% of users are aware of the subsidy activities, with 63.31% actively seeking information about promotions [32]. - 93.62% of users reported increased order frequency due to subsidies, while 90.20% switched platforms because of promotional offers [36][38]. Competitive Differentiation - Users perceive different platforms as having distinct competitive advantages: Taobao leads in price perception (35.55%), while JD.com excels in delivery speed (32.70%) [46][47]. - 45.02% of users consider subsidies the primary factor in platform selection, indicating high price sensitivity alongside a focus on service quality [52]. Innovation and Service Preferences - Post-subsidy, users prioritize improvements in product quality (58.45%) and delivery speed (47.39%) [55]. - There is a notable willingness to pay for customized healthy meals (44.87%) and rapid delivery services (51.50%) [57][58]. Strategic Recommendations - Platforms should focus on user needs by enhancing product quality and delivery reliability, developing differentiated services, optimizing pricing structures, and leveraging technology for better user insights [61][64].