Core Viewpoint - Meituan is facing significant challenges in both domestic and international markets, particularly in Brazil, where it is competing against Didi's 99Food in a rapidly growing e-commerce environment [1][4][14] Group 1: Domestic Market Challenges - In Q2 2025, Meituan reported a nearly 90% drop in adjusted net profit, earning 12.1 billion yuan less than the same period last year, attributed to irrational competition [1] - Meituan's market share in the domestic food delivery sector fell from 74% at the beginning of the year to 65% by August [1] - The company increased its sales and marketing expenses by 7.7 billion yuan compared to the previous year due to the fierce competition [1] Group 2: International Expansion and Competition - Meituan is entering the Brazilian market with its new brand Keeta, planning to invest $1 billion over the next five years [4] - The Brazilian market is seen as a fertile ground for food delivery services due to its high urbanization rate (87.6%) and a projected market size of $12 billion [1][5] - Didi's 99Food previously exited Brazil due to iFood's dominance but has re-entered the market, intensifying competition [2][4] Group 3: Legal Disputes - Meituan's Keeta has initiated legal actions against 99Food for trademark infringement and unfair competition practices [3] - The lawsuits include accusations of 99Food's high-priced advertising tactics and exclusive agreements with merchants [3] Group 4: Market Potential and Infrastructure - Brazil's Q-commerce market is projected to reach approximately $1.05 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of about 11.45% [5] - The CEP (courier, express, and parcel) market in Brazil is expected to grow from $5.93 billion in 2025 to $7.77 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.56% [5] - Brazil's internet penetration rate is high, with over 90% smartphone ownership, indicating a strong potential for on-demand delivery services [5][6] Group 5: Competitive Strategies - Didi's 99Food has proposed a "fair alternative" plan, including waiving commissions for restaurants for a year and guaranteeing daily income for delivery riders [8] - Meituan's Keeta plans to offer lower rates than iFood and provide incentives for timely deliveries [8] - Both companies are engaging in aggressive spending to capture market share in a highly competitive environment dominated by iFood, which holds over 80% of the market [8][12]

Core Insights - The competition between Chinese companies Meituan and Didi in Brazil's food delivery market has intensified, with both companies employing aggressive tactics against each other before Meituan's service has even launched [2][5][10] - iFood, a dominant player in Brazil's food delivery market with over 80% market share, is backed by Prosus, which is also a major shareholder of Tencent [4][10] - Didi's strategy involves using "choose one" tactics against Meituan, similar to what iFood previously used against Didi, indicating a shift in focus from competing with iFood to undermining Meituan [5][13] Company Strategies - Didi has reportedly offered significant financial incentives to restaurants to prevent them from partnering with Meituan, while still allowing partnerships with iFood [7][10] - Meituan has responded by filing lawsuits against Didi for its aggressive tactics, including a claim that Didi has provided at least 900 million reais (approximately 1.18 billion RMB) in prepayments to secure exclusivity against Meituan [10][11] - Both companies have engaged in multiple legal disputes within a short timeframe, indicating a highly competitive and contentious market environment [15] Market Dynamics - The Brazilian food delivery market is projected to exceed $20 billion by 2025, making it an attractive target for international expansion [18] - iFood has initiated defensive measures, including a significant investment of 17 billion reais (approximately 22 billion RMB) to strengthen its market position against new entrants [16][18] - The aggressive competition between Didi and Meituan may lead to a scenario where both companies exhaust their resources without significantly impacting iFood's dominance [19][20] Industry Implications - The internal competition between Didi and Meituan raises concerns about the perception of Chinese companies in international markets, potentially harming their reputation [16][20] - There is a call for both companies to focus on collaboration rather than internal conflict, as the ultimate goal is to capture a larger market share rather than engage in detrimental competition [20] - The emphasis on traditional competitive tactics like "choose one" may hinder innovation and the development of differentiated services, which are crucial in the current AI-driven market landscape [20]