Trump returns to the White House, Mr Modi meets President Xi in Russia. Are businesses ready to survive a world of shifting alliances and tariff threats?

Back by popular requests, we’re re-introducing our weekly recap format in this episode as we dive into the latest economic and political developments reshaping business strategies across borders. As the world watches the U.S. elections, many companies globally, especially cross-border businesses in Asia, are already making bold moves to adapt—with some even setting up shop in Paraguay to avoid potential tariffs.

We also discuss the evolving coffee landscape, including Luckin Coffee’s and Cotti Coffee’s ambitious expansion plans. Where does incumbent Starbucks stand amidst this intensifying competition? Tune in as we weigh in on operational differences, consumer behaviour, and brand strategies of coffee giants globally.

(Only) after pouring $72 billion into Southeast Asia, venture capitalists are hitting the reset button in Southeast Asia?

Lightspeed Ventures' report, Southeast Asia: Resetting Expectations, has sparked discussions in our community groups for its honest take on the region's challenges and opportunities, with some calling it “finally an honest report on Southeast Asia.”

But what does it really mean to reset expectations for this region?

Tune into this latest episode as we dive into the evolving landscape of venture capital investment in Southeast Asia, unpacking why the region’s tech growth hasn’t fully met expectations, the unique role of conglomerates, and what this reset means for future investments and founders navigating these markets.

Earlier in September, Meituan went live in Saudi Arabia under its global brand, Keeta.

This comes more than a year after Meituan entered its first overseas market, Hong Kong, where it quickly overtook established players like Foodpanda, becoming the market leader in order volume due to aggressive promotions and a focus on low Average Order Value (AOV) meals.

Now, Meituan is entering Saudi Arabia, a promising market for food delivery but one that presents unique cultural and operational dynamics for Meituan compared to its previous markets. And unlike many Chinese tech companies going global, Meituan faces the challenge of being an operationally heavy business.

Will Tony Qiu, Head of International Business at Meituan and former lead of DiDi’s expansion in Latin America, be able to navigate these complexities?

Tune in to the latest episode of the Impulso Podcast as we explore Meituan's global expansion strategy, and what’s next for the food delivery giant.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:50 Is food in Hong Kong more expensive than Singapore?

5:58 Rise of two dish rice in Hong Kong

6:50 Meituan’s Keeta wins in Hong Kong?

11:00 What is rival Foodpanda doing?

12:15 Low AOV as a market entry strategy

14:18 Meituan’s expansion into Saudi Arabia

24:50 Why did Meituan’s share price rise?

Featured materials:

Meituan is entering Hong Kong, will it beat Foodpanda and Deliveroo there?, The Low Down

Meituan becomes top food delivery player in Hong Kong, The Low Down

Watch Out! KeeTa’s Rapid Rise in Hong Kong, measurable.ai

Total Restaurant Receipts and Restaurant Purchases, Hong Kong Government

McDonald’s to increase prices in Hong Kong by about 2.6% in new year, South China Morning Post

Will Meituan beat DeliveryHero in Saudi Arabia?, The Low Down

Meituan launches in Saudi Arabia, where next?, The Low Down

Should Meituan acquire Foodpanda?, The Low Down

In focus: food delivery platforms in Southeast Asia, Momentum Works

Picture Sources:

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3199243/two-dish-rice-cheap-fabulously-rich-and-hong-kong-icon-time-declare-it-part-citys-intangible

https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/lifehack-teaches-you-how-order-cai-fan-pro