Why is Meituan, once a food delivery giant, now caught in the dilemma of a 3.38 million drop in daily orders? Is it just as simple as intensifying market competition? Perhaps it is more complicated than this.
The term pre-made food appears more and more frequently in Meituan's business reports, and the story behind it is even more thought-provoking.
The popularity of pre-made dishes was supposed to be a good antidote to the fast-paced life, but when it flooded the food delivery industry, problems also followed.
From convenience to burden, from saving time to sacrificing quality, consumer dissatisfaction is on the rise. Meituan's decrease in orders is a simple reduction in numbers, and it is also a direct reflection of the lack of trust among consumers.
So, what exactly did pre-made dishes bring to Meituan, and how did it go from being a convenient option to being a popular choice?
1. Is it an innovative or prefabricated shadow?
In the takeaway market, fast-food chains such as Shin Kung Fu and Yoshinoya openly admit that their set menus are almost entirely made up of pre-made dishes, and even Xibei, which costs as much as 100 yuan per person, has 85% of its dishes pre-made.
This situation is not an isolated phenomenon, but a common practice in an industry. Food delivery giant Meituan's orders suddenly fell by 3.38 million, exposing the deep problem of the popularity of pre-made dishes.
According to a survey by Beijing Daily, a whopping 91% of consumers have a negative view of takeaway made with pre-made dishes.
This widespread consumer dissatisfaction is directly reflected in Meituan's financial report: a significant drop in the number of orders. More specifically, looking at economic data, this trend has affected Meituan's day-to-day operations and also put pressure on its share price.
The popularity of pre-made dishes stems from a variety of factors. Prepared dishes can significantly reduce kitchen operating costs, reduce cooking time, and ensure consistency of dishes.
This convenience comes at the expense of freshness and quality of food, and consumers are often rewarded with foods with a lot of added preservatives and MSG.
A barbecue restaurant that sells well on Meituan advertises its homemade grilled chicken wings as the only dish made on site, with other items such as grilled sausages and roasted corn prepared in advance.
In terms of food safety, the hidden dangers posed by pre-made dishes cannot be ignored. During a food safety spot check in March 2024, a number of restaurants that used pre-made dishes were found to have serious hygiene problems and even used expired ingredients.
While these incidents have been dealt with swiftly, the blow to public confidence has had a long-term impact.
As an industry leader, Meituan's handling of the problem of pre-made dishes is particularly crucial. Although the company has begun to optimize its supply chain in an effort to reduce its reliance on pre-made dishes, the transformation of the entire food delivery industry will not happen overnight.
Meituan needs to take more proactive measures, such as clearly labeling businesses that use pre-made dishes, to enhance consumers' right to know and choose.
On the balance of speed and quality, integrity is the only weight. Only through transparency measures can consumer trust be gradually restored and its market leadership position can be consolidated.
Although pre-made dishes have brought unprecedented efficiency to the food delivery industry, the ensuing food safety problems and consumer trust crisis cannot be ignored. The challenge for Meituan and its peers is how to balance efficiency and quality to ensure long-term sustainability.
This is a commercial issue, but also an ethical issue, which is related to the safety of every consumer's table. Every simplification of food should not be a compromise on safety.
Second, when convenience becomes a burden
According to a survey by Beijing Daily, as many as 91% of consumers refuse to use pre-made food takeaways, which is enough to show the seriousness of the problem.
It's not hard to see that the pre-made food problem has permeated the entire food delivery industry, with fast-food chains such as Shin Kung Fu and Yoshinoya, for example, openly admitting that most of their set meals use pre-made ingredients.
What's even more shocking is that even Xibei Noodle Village, which is known for its quality and taste, has 85% of the dishes pre-made.
Behind the convenience, there is often a regression in quality.
Economic data also reveals the direct impact of this trend on Meituan's business. In addition to the decline in orders, Meituan's share price has also been hit by market concerns about its business prospects.
A well-known roast duck restaurant has seen a sharp drop in its reviews on Meituan, largely because the freshly cooked roast duck it advertises is actually pre-made. Consumer reviews and feedback are rife with disappointment with the freshness and taste of food.
This widespread dissatisfaction has affected consumers' willingness to make repeat purchases and has also caused long-term damage to Meituan's brand reputation. In terms of food safety, pre-made dishes are a potential minefield.
During a recent food safety inspection, a number of takeaway suppliers using prepared ingredients were found to have serious hygiene issues, including the use of expired ingredients and improper storage of food. Food safety is not a commercial option, but a basic requirement.
In response to this crisis, Meituan needs to take more proactive measures. However, it is only a simple supply chain management optimization, and the merchants who use pre-made dishes should be clearly marked on the platform to ensure consumers' right to know and choose.
This transparency is a sign of responsibility to consumers and to the market.
Although pre-made dishes have brought efficiency improvements to the food delivery industry, the consequent decline in quality, lack of consumer trust, and food safety hazards are serious challenges that Meituan and the industry as a whole must face.
Between speed and quality, the right balance is the key to success. How to find a balance between efficiency and quality will be the key to Meituan's future development.
Third, the tip of the iceberg behind the reduction in orders
According to the survey results, 91% of consumers have a negative opinion about takeaway made from pre-made dishes.
This widespread discontent has had a direct impact on Meituan's performance, with its earnings report showing a significant drop of 3.38 million orders per day. This is a decline in numbers, and it is the beginning of a crisis of confidence.
Trust is the cornerstone of business, and once it collapses, there is no time for recovery.
In a specific case, although the barbecue restaurant of a well-known Meituan takeaway is famous for grilled chicken wings, except for the grilled chicken wings, all other skewers in the store are prefabricated products.
Consumer reviews are filled with disappointment with the quality of food, and such voices have attracted widespread attention and discussion on the Internet. According to data, the number of chargebacks due to food safety issues has increased by 20% in the past year.
Behind all this, there is the excessive compression of costs and the neglect of quality by food delivery platforms and restaurants. The popularity of pre-made dishes has reduced the workload in the kitchen and reduced the difficulty of operation, but it has also brought hidden dangers to food safety and quality.
Over-reliance on pre-made dishes harms the health of consumers' diets and damages the brand's long-term reputation. Food safety is a red line in the kitchen, and once crossed, the consequences are unimaginable.
Faced with such a situation, food delivery platforms such as Meituan need to re-examine their business models and supply chain management.
The solution to the problem of pre-made dishes is deceptively simple – clearly label merchants using pre-made ingredients on the platform, so that consumers have a clear choice.
This is a responsibility to consumers and a necessary guarantee for the healthy development of the market. Transparency is a manifestation of conscience and a sign of corporate responsibility.
Serious food safety issues should not be treated as trivial matters, as we often say, small holes are not filled, big holes suffer.
In the food delivery industry, the solution to the problem of pre-made dishes should not be just a superficial work, but a deep reform to ensure that every takeaway is a guarantee of safety and deliciousness. Conscience is one of the best seasonings in the food industry, and there is no one.
Fourth, don't treat consumers like anything
Meituan's latest financial report shows that its daily order volume has decreased amazingly!
This figure reflects consumer disappointment and portends a broader crisis of trust that the industry may face.
A bibimbap store on Meituan is a case in point. Except for the signature grilled chicken wings, almost all the rice, such as braised pork rice and roast duck rice, are pre-made, which is the exact opposite of the store's claim that it is freshly made on site.
Consumers responded strongly after discovering the truth, and the store's ratings and sales dropped sharply, highlighting the importance of food quality and integrity in consumer decision-making.
The problem of pre-made dishes is limited to the decline in quality and taste, and it is more about food safety. Many restaurants that use pre-made ingredients are prone to hygiene issues when they are not properly disposed of.
In recent food safety inspections, a number of takeaway businesses using prepared ingredients have been exposed to the use of expired ingredients, which violates food safety regulations and seriously harms the health of consumers.
Platforms such as Meituan need to take stricter measures. Clearly identifying consumers as using pre-made ingredients is a necessary act of transparency.
This can increase consumer choice and drive the industry in a healthier and more responsible direction.
The popularity of pre-made dishes in the food delivery industry has brought convenience and efficiency, but it has also raised questions of quality, safety, and trust. Food delivery platforms and suppliers must face up to these issues and take concrete actions to protect the interests of consumers in order to achieve sustainable development.
The future of the industry depends on honesty today and quality tomorrow.
epilogue
In the face of these questions, we must ask ourselves: should we adopt stricter measures on food safety and consumer rights, and can we accept only convenience, or should it also include basic guarantees of food quality?
Food safety is not a small matter, it is about everyone's health and future.
What we need is not only self-regulation of food delivery platforms, but also the active intervention of policymakers and regulators.
Consumers' right to know and choose can only be truly protected by establishing stricter food safety standards and clearly labelling takeaway services that use pre-made dishes. Transparency is the best food additive.
The issue of pre-made food in the food delivery industry is a complex and multi-dimensional challenge, which tests the ethical bottom line of enterprises and the effectiveness of regulatory agencies. As consumers, we should also be vigilant.