China’s food delivery apps, like Meituan and Ele.me, differ significantly from Zomato in India. Here’s a comparison across key factors:
1. Market Size & Reach
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China: Meituan and Ele.me dominate the world’s largest food delivery market, with millions of daily orders. These apps are deeply integrated into Chinese super apps like WeChat and Alipay.
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Zomato: Zomato is a major player in India but operates on a smaller scale compared to China’s giants.
2. App Features & Ecosystem
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China: Meituan and Ele.me offer not just food but also groceries, medicine, and even lifestyle services (hotel bookings, ride-hailing).
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Zomato: Primarily focused on food delivery and restaurant reviews, with some grocery and essentials delivery through Blinkit (owned by Zomato).
3. Speed & Logistics
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China: Advanced AI-driven logistics with electric scooter fleets ensure extremely fast deliveries, often within 20–30 minutes.
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Zomato: Delivery speeds vary but are improving, typically 30–45 minutes in metro areas.
4. Restaurant & Pricing Options
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China: A massive variety of local Chinese cuisines, with competitive pricing and discounts.
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Zomato: Offers Indian and global cuisines, often focusing on premium pricing for urban consumers.
5. Discounts & Promotions
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China: Heavy discounts and promotions due to intense competition.
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Zomato: Discounts are available, but Zomato has been reducing them to focus on profitability.
6. Payment & Integration
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China: Fully integrated with WeChat Pay & Alipay, making payments seamless.
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Zomato: Supports UPI, credit/debit cards, and Zomato Pay in some locations.
7. Business Model & Profitability
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China: High-volume, low-margin model, with profits coming from multiple services (not just food delivery).
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Zomato: Still working towards sustained profitability, experimenting with services like Zomato Gold.
8. Meituan
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2023 Revenue: Approximately CNY 276.7 billion (~USD 38.09 billion) MarketScreener+1Wikipedia+1
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Growth: This represents a notable increase from previous years, with a 56% revenue jump in 2021 .Global Times
9. Ele.me
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Revenue: Specific annual revenue figures for Ele.me are not publicly disclosed as it operates under Alibaba’s local services segment. However, in the six months leading up to September 30, 2024, this segment reported revenues of USD 4.8 billion. It’s important to note that this segment includes other services beyond food delivery, making it challenging to isolate Ele.me’s exact contribution. Financial Times
10. Zomato
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2023 Revenue: INR 7,079 crore (~USD 950 million).Morning Expert+3Financial Times+3MarketScreener+3
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Growth: This reflects a 65% year-on-year growth compared to the previous fiscal year.
Visual Comparison
To illustrate these figures, here’s a comparative chart of the annual revenues:
| Platform | Annual Revenue (USD) | Reporting Year |
|---|---|---|
| Meituan | 38.09 billion | 2023 |
| Ele.me (Alibaba’s Local Services Segment) | 4.8 billion (for six months) | H1 2024 |
| Zomato | 950 million | 2023 |
Note: Ele.me’s revenue is part of Alibaba’s local services segment, which includes additional services beyond food delivery.Financial Times
Analysis
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Meituan: Dominates with substantial revenue, reflecting its extensive service offerings and market penetration in China.
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Ele.me: As part of Alibaba’s broader local services, its exact revenue from food delivery isn’t distinctly reported, but it contributes significantly to the segment’s earnings.
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Zomato: While showing impressive growth, its revenue remains considerably lower than its Chinese counterparts, indicating a smaller market size and different consumer dynamics in India.
This comparison underscores the vast scale of China’s food delivery market relative to India’s, influenced by factors such as population size, urbanization rates, and consumer behavior.
