36氪独家获悉，美团在社区折扣超市"快乐猴"之外，其前置仓业务小象超市也在筹备新的线下店项目。 新项目将采用大店模式，于今年6月正式立项，由小象超市既有团队负责，首店预计今年12月在北京开 出。 至此，美团的线下布局可以概括为"两条腿走路"：线下折扣项目"快乐猴超市"划分至社区团购业务"美 团优选"，对标盒马NB、奥乐齐等社区超市；大店项目由小象超市团队负责，跳出社区做大店，整体选 品定位也更贴近目前小象超市的中高定位。 美团的线下布局，伴随着新业务的优化与转向而生。今年4月，36氪曾独家报道小象超市即将开设线下 店，社区折扣店、大店均在考虑范围；6月下旬，美团优选宣布退出亏损区域，仅保留杭州、广东等少 数地区的业务，而小象超市从今年1月起开始酝酿的"快乐猴超市"转而交由原优选团队负责，保留了优 选仓储中心的杭州成为开店第一站；同样是在6月，小象内部将大店立项——与持续亏损的社区团购相 比，即时零售跑出了确定性需求，美团也从优选业务中离场，转而抢夺线下阵地的增量市场，这构成了 美团新业务的最新变化。 目前，快乐猴超市在杭州的筹备已经基本完成，位于杭州市拱墅区大关路的首店将于8月29日开业，门 店SKU约170 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the strategic shifts of major platforms like Meituan, Ele.me, and JD.com in the instant retail sector, moving from price competition to value creation, emphasizing supply chain capabilities and channel expansion. Group 1: JD.com Initiatives - JD.com opened its first discount supermarket in Hebei, attracting over 100,000 customers in two days, which is about one-sixth of the city's population [2][4] - The company reported a threefold increase in foot traffic and a 100% increase in online orders for its Seven Fresh Food MALL since its opening [2][4] - JD.com is expanding its offline presence by collaborating with over ten cities and integrating its community dining service, Seven Fresh Kitchen [2][4] Group 2: Supply Chain Strategy - JD.com emphasizes its supply chain advantages, utilizing direct sourcing and self-owned brands to reduce costs and enhance product quality [5] - The acquisition of Hong Kong's Jia Bao Food Supermarket is a strategic move to strengthen its fresh supply chain in the Greater Bay Area and enhance local retail market presence [5] Group 3: Taobao's Approach - Taobao's Flash Purchase reported significant growth, with 66 brands achieving over 10 million in monthly sales in July, and a 110% increase in new brand entries [6][8] - The platform's collaboration with brands like Xiaomi and Miniso has led to a fourfold increase in daily orders since May, showcasing the effectiveness of near-field delivery [8] Group 4: Meituan and Douyin Strategies - Meituan's self-operated instant retail brand, Xiao Xiang Supermarket, has expanded its product range to over 10,000 SKUs, with a projected GMV of nearly 30 billion in 2024 [9] - Douyin is integrating "live streaming + instant delivery" to enhance its e-commerce capabilities, leveraging its content output for immediate consumer engagement [9] Group 5: Industry Trends - The shift from "price war" to "value creation" in instant retail is highlighted, with a focus on convenience, quality, and efficiency rather than capital-driven price competition [10]

Group 1 - Approximately 30%-40% of grid warehouse operators are choosing to transform into self-operated community group buying, leveraging existing sorting teams and delivery networks to build systems within a month after warehouse closure [3][9] - Meituan Youxuan had over 3,000 grid warehouse sites covering 90% of town markets before its planned withdrawal in June 2025, with daily order volumes peaking at tens of thousands but later declining to below 5,000 due to increasing losses [4][9] - The transformation relies on localized resources and community group buying system support, with successful transitions more likely for sites with mature supply chain capabilities [5][9] Group 2 - About 60%-70% of the sites are shifting towards non-community group buying areas, including instant retail delivery, third-party logistics services, and agricultural supply chain management [7][9] - Some low-efficiency sites are opting to sell off equipment or exit the market entirely, while self-operated community group buying incurs additional costs that may pressure smaller sites financially [7][9] - The competitive landscape for instant retail is dominated by giants like Meituan Shanguo and JD Daojia, necessitating grid warehouses to upgrade to front warehouses or join platform ecosystems for survival [7][9]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the rapid expansion and strategic positioning of Meituan's Xiaoxiang Supermarket in the instant retail market, particularly in response to changing consumer behaviors during the pandemic [1][31] - Xiaoxiang Supermarket has extended its operating hours and is actively expanding its coverage to all first- and second-tier cities, indicating a strong growth strategy [1][4] - The instant retail market is primarily dominated by platform models, with Meituan's Xiaoxiang Supermarket and other players like Dingdong Maicai and Pupu Supermarket competing in the front warehouse model [2][4] Group 2 - Xiaoxiang Supermarket is projected to achieve a GMV of nearly 30 billion yuan in 2024, surpassing Dingdong Maicai and approaching Pupu Supermarket, potentially becoming the top player in the front warehouse sector [6] - The front warehouse model, while popular, is financially challenging due to high operational costs and low profit margins, making it a "money-burning" business [7][10] - To improve profitability, Xiaoxiang Supermarket is focusing on increasing average order value and expanding product categories, including non-fresh items [13][25] Group 3 - Xiaoxiang Supermarket benefits from its affiliation with Meituan, leveraging its extensive delivery network and user base to reduce marketing costs and enhance customer acquisition [28][29] - The company has aggressively expanded its presence, increasing its operational cities from 18 to 21 within a month, and plans to cover all major urban areas [30][31] - Meituan's strategic focus on instant retail, including Xiaoxiang Supermarket, aligns with its broader goals for growth in grocery retail and international expansion [31][32] Group 4 - Xiaoxiang Supermarket is planning to re-enter the offline retail space, aiming to compete with established players like Hema Fresh, while facing challenges in supply chain management and store operations [32][33] - The future success of Xiaoxiang Supermarket in the competitive offline market will depend on its ability to create a synergistic online and offline business model [34]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the competitive landscape of offline retail in China, focusing on Meituan's new discount supermarket project "Happy Monkey" as it aims to penetrate the lower-tier market, contrasting its strategy with Alibaba's Hema NB and highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the sector [1][2][3]. Group 1: Meituan's Strategy and Market Position - Meituan is launching "Happy Monkey" in Hangzhou, with plans for a flagship store in Beijing, targeting the lower-tier market from the outset [1][2]. - The leadership team for "Happy Monkey" is primarily composed of members from the previously downsized Meituan Youxuan, indicating a strategic shift within the company [1]. - Meituan's CEO Wang Xing has identified "food and grocery retail" as a top priority for the company's future, marking a significant strategic pivot towards offline retail [3][4]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Hema NB has rapidly expanded to over 300 stores since its launch, positioning itself as a key player in the offline retail space, which Meituan is now entering with "Happy Monkey" [2]. - The competition in the lower-tier market is intensifying, with "Happy Monkey" facing rivals like Hema NB and Aoleqi, highlighting the need for differentiation in product offerings and pricing strategies [11][12]. Group 3: Operational Challenges and Opportunities - Meituan's previous attempt at offline retail with "Little Elephant Fresh" failed due to high operational costs and a lack of expertise in supply chain management, which the company aims to address with its new approach [5][7]. - The "Happy Monkey" model focuses on hard discounting and high private label ratios, catering to price-sensitive consumers in lower-tier cities, which is a shift from previous high-end strategies [8][9]. - The integration of "Happy Monkey" with Meituan's existing flash purchase service could enhance product quality and supply chain efficiency, addressing past challenges faced by the flash purchase platform [10]. Group 4: Future Expansion Plans - Meituan has set an ambitious target of opening 1,000 "Happy Monkey" stores, indicating a strong commitment to scaling its offline retail presence [11]. - The company is leveraging its extensive logistics network and rider workforce to optimize resource allocation and improve operational efficiency in its new stores [13][14]. - "Happy Monkey" is part of a broader strategy that includes the development of "Little Elephant Supermarket," which targets higher-end markets, showcasing a dual approach to market segmentation [14].

Core Insights - Meituan's first "Happy Monkey" supermarket is set to open in Hangzhou by the end of August, with plans to establish 10 stores by 2025 and a long-term goal of 1,000 stores in major cities like Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou [1][3] - The supermarket will focus on "hard discount retail," positioning itself against competitors like Hema NB, with initial store sizes ranging from 800 to 1,000 square meters [1][3] - This marks Meituan's renewed attempt in offline retail after the failure of its previous venture, Xiaoxiang Fresh, which closed all stores in 2020 due to poor site selection and cost control [1][3] Business Strategy - The leadership of Happy Monkey includes experienced personnel from Meituan's previous retail initiatives, ensuring a strong operational foundation [4] - The hard discount model emphasizes high self-owned brand sales, potentially exceeding 50%, which enhances market pricing power and profit margins [5][6] - Happy Monkey aims to leverage Meituan's supply chain advantages, focusing on direct sourcing from farms to offer competitive pricing on fresh produce [10][11] Market Positioning - Happy Monkey differentiates itself by offering a streamlined selection of around 1,200 SKUs, focusing on high-frequency essential items, which allows for cost reduction through centralized purchasing [10][13] - The supermarket targets the lower-tier markets in first and second-tier cities, avoiding high-end shopping districts, thus creating a competitive edge against Hema and Aldi [13][16] - The pricing strategy aims to provide 15%-30% lower prices on fresh products compared to other retail brands, appealing to price-sensitive consumers [10][13] Competitive Landscape - Happy Monkey's entry poses a threat to established players like Hema and Aldi, prompting them to adjust their promotional strategies in response [13][16] - Meituan's extensive delivery network of 8 million riders positions Happy Monkey to offer rapid delivery services, enhancing its competitive advantage in the instant retail space [19][21] - The supermarket's model is designed to complement Meituan's existing online services, creating a dual-channel approach that integrates online and offline retail [17][23] Future Outlook - The success of Happy Monkey will depend on its ability to maintain low prices while ensuring quality, which is critical for capturing market share in the competitive hard discount sector [23] - Meituan's strategy to utilize its existing resources and infrastructure aims to fill gaps in its offline retail presence, potentially reshaping the traditional retail landscape [23]

Summary of Instant Retail Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - Instant retail has significantly impacted traditional offline supermarkets, particularly large chains like Yonghui and RT-Mart, through store digitization, consumer mindset cultivation, and logistics system development [3][1] - The industry is characterized by two main business models: platform business and self-operated business, with platforms like Meituan, Alibaba's Ele.me, and JD Daojia focusing on information matching and traffic operation, while self-operated businesses emphasize supply chain management [2][12] Key Players and Their Strategies Meituan - Meituan holds a competitive advantage in instant retail due to its extensive coverage of small and medium-sized merchants and a high penetration rate among takeaway users [4][1] - The company enhances its supply chain capabilities through self-operated businesses like Xiaoxiang Supermarket and Happy Monkey Discount Store [4][1] Alibaba - Alibaba expands its reach in instant retail through Ele.me for takeaway services and Taobao Flash Purchase for non-food categories [5][1] - Despite rapid growth through subsidies, Alibaba faces challenges due to differences in consumer mindsets between Taobao users and takeaway users [5][1] JD Daojia - JD Daojia has partnered with regional supermarkets like RT-Mart and Sam's Club, but the decline of some traditional supermarkets has affected its profitability [6][1] - The company maintains market share through 3C electronics and fast-moving consumer goods [6][1] Differences Between Instant Retail and Traditional E-commerce - Instant retail differs from traditional e-commerce in consumer mindset, fulfillment costs, and supply logic, relying more on localized supply and rapid fulfillment rather than scale effects and unlimited SKUs [7][1] - Instant retail emphasizes quick fulfillment and quality assurance over price advantages or product variety [7][1] Future Outlook - The growth of instant retail depends on consumer habit formation, supply fulfillment efficiency improvements, and category expansion, with collaboration with upstream brand manufacturers being crucial [8][1] - The industry is expected to see a compound annual growth rate exceeding 20%, but caution is advised regarding specific data [10][1] E-commerce Platforms' Retail Strategies - E-commerce platforms are entering the retail space to expand market share, primarily targeting urban users with services similar to takeaway, focusing on fewer SKUs and popular products [11][1] - Retail is viewed as a common denominator for all local life categories, with varying penetration depths based on immediacy and emergency needs [11][1] Delivery and Fulfillment Competitiveness - Competition in delivery and fulfillment efficiency among platforms is driven by order density and the number of delivery personnel, influenced by consumer mindset [13][1] - Meituan Flash Purchase enhances its growth through lightning warehouses and franchise models to meet 24-hour convenience demands [13][1]

Group 1 - Berkshire's Vice Chairman Charlie Munger admitted to misjudging Alibaba, stating it was one of his biggest mistakes due to the competitive nature of the retail business in China [1] - The new retail landscape is evolving with companies like Alibaba, JD, and Meituan combining long-distance e-commerce with instant retail, indicating a shift in strategy [1][4] - Meituan is launching a new discount supermarket called "Happy Monkey," which aims to compete with Alibaba's Hema NB, reflecting the trend towards hard discount models in retail [1] Group 2 - JD's CEO Liu Qiangdong explained that all of JD's companies, including its foray into food delivery, are aimed at serving the supply chain, particularly for fresh produce [4] - The competition in the food delivery market is intensifying, with major players focusing on integrating instant retail into their strategies, particularly through community-based hard discount supermarkets [4][5] Group 3 - The Chinese online food delivery market is stabilizing, with a projected market size of 1.6357 trillion yuan in 2024, growing by 7.2% year-on-year, indicating a slowdown in growth [7] - The competition for market share is increasingly focused on retaining existing users who are attracted by discounts, leading to a situation where merchants face challenges in profitability [7][9] - Meituan reported over 100 million daily orders for instant retail, with a significant portion coming from non-food categories, highlighting the importance of community supermarkets in this competitive landscape [9] Group 4 - Hema has undergone multiple iterations to find an efficient business model, achieving over 75 billion yuan in GMV for the fiscal year 2025, with online transactions contributing over 60% [10][12] - Meituan's Xiaoxiang supermarket is projected to reach nearly 30 billion yuan in GMV for 2024, although it has not yet achieved profitability [12][14] Group 5 - The rise of hard discount supermarkets in China is attributed to the pandemic's impact on supply chains, leading to a surge in demand for discounted products [15] - Successful international models like Aldi and Sam's Club have influenced the domestic market, with local brands and e-commerce platforms entering the hard discount space [15][17] - The competitive landscape for hard discount supermarkets is intensifying, with brands needing to excel in supply chain management and customer experience to build loyalty [19]

Core Viewpoint - Meituan is re-entering the offline retail market with its new hard discount supermarket project "Happy Monkey," aiming to leverage synergies with its existing businesses and align with its long-term strategy in grocery retail [3][4][6]. Group 1: Project Launch and Strategy - The "Happy Monkey" supermarket is set to officially open by the end of August this year, with a target of 20 stores in 2023 and 200 stores in 2024, starting in Beijing and Hangzhou [4]. - The store size will range from 800 to 1000 square meters, with over 50% of the space dedicated to fresh produce and a total of 1200 SKUs [4][12]. - The project is positioned to compete with Hema NB, focusing on high-quality products at competitive prices through optimized supply chains and reduced operational costs [12][16]. Group 2: Market Context and Consumer Trends - The discount retail market in China is rapidly growing, with an estimated market size of approximately 1.79 trillion yuan in 2023, accounting for about 3.8% of total social retail sales [15]. - A significant portion of consumers (33%) are concerned about rising food prices, indicating a demand for high-quality yet affordable products [15]. - The hard discount model is particularly appealing in the context of consumer trends towards quality and value amidst economic pressures [13][15]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Supply Chain - Competitors like Aldi and Hema NB have successfully established themselves in the hard discount sector, with Aldi reporting over 500 low-priced products and Hema NB undergoing a brand upgrade [12][13]. - Meituan's strategy includes leveraging its existing supply chain from previous projects like Meituan Preferred and integrating suppliers from its past ventures [18][20]. - The focus on self-operated products will be crucial for maintaining competitive pricing and quality, with Meituan already having a significant number of self-branded products [20][21]. Group 4: Synergies with Existing Operations - The "Happy Monkey" project is expected to enhance Meituan's existing instant retail operations, which currently boast a peak daily order volume of 150 million [23]. - The integration of offline stores will provide a more comprehensive local retail experience, addressing the limitations of purely online models [27][28]. - Meituan aims to create a "big supermarket" model by connecting local demand, supply, and logistics, thereby enhancing its market presence and consumer engagement [27][28].

Core Insights - Meituan is making a significant return to offline retail with the launch of its new discount supermarket chain "Happy Monkey," marking its third attempt in this sector [1][2][3] - The Chinese retail market is currently experiencing intense competition, with major players like Alibaba, Meituan, and JD.com investing over 100 billion yuan in subsidies [1][4][6] Group 1: Meituan's Retail Strategy - Meituan's previous venture, "Little Elephant Fresh," faced challenges leading to its closure, but the company has pivoted to new strategies, including the launch of "Meituan Grocery" and "Meituan Preferred" [2][3] - The new "Happy Monkey" stores aim to leverage insights from past failures and are designed to operate with high efficiency, utilizing direct supplier connections and automated processes [7][8] - The company plans to open approximately 1,000 "Happy Monkey" stores, with several already under construction in key markets like Hangzhou and Beijing [6][10] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The hard discount supermarket sector is highly competitive, with established players like Hema and Aldi dominating the market, necessitating a focus on low margins and high turnover [8][9] - Meituan's "Happy Monkey" will compete directly with Hema's existing stores in Hangzhou, which already has a significant presence [9][10] - The company is also developing a network of over 5,500 satellite stores to enhance its delivery capabilities, with plans to expand this to 10,000 by the end of 2025 [10][11] Group 3: Market Dynamics - The instant retail market is evolving, with Meituan capturing over 70% of the market share in daily orders, while competitors like Alibaba and JD.com are also ramping up their efforts [12][13] - The shift in consumer behavior towards non-food categories is evident, with non-food orders increasing from 28% in 2023 to 41% in the first half of 2025 [12][13] - Meituan's strategy includes integrating its membership system across various services to enhance customer retention and engagement [12][13] Group 4: Future Outlook - The success of "Happy Monkey" will depend on Meituan's ability to optimize its supply chain and establish strong partnerships with suppliers, as well as its capacity to adapt to the complexities of offline retail [14][15] - The competitive landscape will continue to evolve, with Meituan needing to differentiate itself through unique value propositions and operational efficiencies [14][15] - The upcoming launch of "Happy Monkey" is seen as a critical move for Meituan's long-term strategy in reshaping its retail presence and addressing market challenges [15][16]