Douyin, China’s domestic version of TikTok, is testing a food-delivery service in China in three cities – Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. 

The service allows merchants to advertise and offer ‘group-buying’ packages to the app’s users. Customers can choose the time of delivery within two days. Douyin’s owner, ByteDance, said it will consider expanding the service in other cities depending on the results of the pilot that has been running since December. 

This is not the first time Douyin has experimented with food service. According to Shine, the company trialled a food app in July 2017, which lasted only five months. Douyin also piloted group-buying meal-delivery services in Beijing and Shanghai last July. 

Douyin’s new program, if launched nationwide, will directly compete with major e-commerce players such as Alibaba’s Ele.me and Meituan. 

Research company, IMarc Group estimates the China online food delivery market reached US$66.4 billion last year and will generate $129.6 billion by 2028. 

Further reading: Alibaba’s e-commerce empire under threat from Douyin, Pinduoduo.