Meituan Waimai (美团外卖) unveils upgraded spring uniforms, introducing delivery industry’s first women-specific fit

What’s new

Meituan Waimai (美团外卖), the on-demand delivery arm of Meituan (美团), has rolled out upgraded spring uniforms for couriers, introducing what it calls the industry’s first women’s-specific custom fit. According to Chinese outlet ifeng, the refresh targets better ergonomics and comfort for female riders who have long relied on unisex gear. It has been reported that the redesign emphasizes improved tailoring, lighter seasonal fabrics, and safety elements such as reflective accents.

Why it matters

China’s delivery platforms rely on a vast gig workforce, and rider welfare has come under heightened public and regulatory scrutiny in recent years. A women-specific uniform may sound cosmetic, but it addresses a basic inclusion gap in a sector where the number of female couriers is reportedly rising. Better fit can mean less fatigue, improved mobility, and a stronger sense of belonging—practical advantages that also serve Meituan’s talent retention and brand goals in a fiercely competitive market.

Competitive context

Meituan Waimai is locked in a nationwide contest with Ele.me (饿了么), owned by Alibaba (阿里巴巴), for users, merchants, and riders. Both platforms have invested in courier support—from insurance and heat shelters to weather stipends—following 2021 guidelines issued by multiple Chinese ministries to improve protections for workers in “new forms of employment.” Uniform design now becomes another differentiation lever. Will rivals match the women-specific approach? That could quickly become a new baseline across China’s on-demand logistics networks.

The bigger picture

The uniform upgrade underscores how China’s consumer internet giants are shifting from pure growth to operational refinements that address safety, dignity, and day-to-day experience for frontline workers. As platforms fine-tune algorithms and benefits under regulatory pressure, tangible updates like seasonally tuned, gender-specific gear show how incremental changes can compound. The message is clear: comfort and inclusion are now part of the cost of doing business at scale.