The Retail Rundown: Strong Retail Deals, Tighter Turkey Procurement

With Thanksgiving just three weeks out, retailers are ramping up turkey promotions, including heavily discounted and free birds, to draw holiday shoppers. 

Behind the retail activity, however, wholesale buyers face tightening whole-turkey supplies, historically elevated prices, and limited options for last-minute purchases.

Expana’s frozen tom assessments have climbed nearly 12% to record highs since the start of 2026. Despite higher year-to-date ready-to-cook production, more birds have been directed to cut-up and deboning operations, tightening whole-bird supplies ahead of Thanksgiving.

The imbalance emerged in...

Amazon Offers $25 Thanksgiving Meal as Grocery Retailers Compete on Holiday Value

Amazon is offering a $25 Thanksgiving meal bundle through Nov. 26, combining a frozen turkey with ingredients for traditional side dishes and dessert as the company expands its grocery delivery assortment and holiday promotions. The bundle is available in more than 2,300 US cities and towns served by Amazon’s fresh grocery Same-Day Delivery service. Customers can order the meal through Amazon Grocery, with free Same-Day Delivery on orders of $25 or more, while supplies last.

“Customers love the convenience of...

Target Brings More Value to Thanksgiving with a $30 Meal for Six

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced how it's helping busy families save on Thanksgiving while celebrating the traditions they love and discovering new favorites. A new YouGov survey¹ finds seven in 10 Americans value Thanksgiving food traditions, yet nearly half of those celebrating plan to put their own twist on a classic recipe this year. With nearly 60 new and trending food and beverage items, a $30 Thanksgiving meal for six² and fresh finds for the home, Target is making it easier, more affordable and more inspiring for guests to bring...

BJ’s Wholesale Club Announces Return of Its Annual Free Turkey Giveaway

It’s BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) members’ favorite time of year: the free turkey promotion is back, running from October 31 through November 9.

Members who spend $150 or more in one transaction in-club, through the BJ’s mobile app or BJs.com during the promotion dates will qualify for a free fresh or frozen Butterball turkey. Beginning November 14, members can access their free turkey coupon in the app or in their BJs.com account. Free turkeys can be claimed online or in-club by November 25‡...

The Retail Rundown: Egg Retail Looks Ahead to Holiday Baking Demand 

Grocers are entering a key period for egg demand, as seasonal baking and an uptick in home cooking typically support purchases toward year-end. However, the holiday boost has yet to translate into stronger consumer demand, with feature activity easing in recent weeks.

According to the USDA’s latest Feature Activity report, national egg feature activity declined to 39.5% from 45.8% the previous week, but remained above the 32.1% during the same period last year. 

At retail, shelf prices remain largely unchanged, while wholesale egg prices are hovering at multi-year lows, potentially...

Sam’s Club Serves Up Its Largest-Ever Thanksgiving Meal, Feeding 16 for Less Than $10 a Person

Sam’s Club, a leading membership retail club, today unveiled its largest Thanksgiving holiday meal ever, designed to feed 16 people for less than $10 per person. Even while holding the per-person price to last year’s, the 2026 Thanksgiving meal adds more items and is curated to be prepared in about two hours.

This year’s Thanksgiving meal is the result of 12 months of planning, research, testing, tasting, and close collaboration with the Member’s Mark Community...

No Coupons, No Compromises, No Games: ALDI Feeds 10 for Under $39 This Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving season, ALDI is setting the bar with a classic, hard to beat Thanksgiving meal for 10 for under $39, no coupons, loyalty cards, minimum purchases or memberships required.* The holiday meal includes a 16-pound turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, cranberries, peas, carrots, celery, pumpkin pie ingredients, milk and whipping cream, proving shoppers can spend less without settling for less.

"Thanksgiving shouldn't require a calculator or a coupon strategy," said Atty McGrath, CEO, ALDI...

Holiday Spending Outlook Puts Value and Convenience in Focus for Foodservice

US consumers are expected to spend slightly less this holiday season as higher costs pressure household budgets. For foodservice operators and retailers, the outlook suggests consumers still plan to celebrate, but will be more selective about where holiday dollars go.

According to Circana’s 2026 US Holiday Purchase Intentions Study, consumers plan to spend an average of $779 during the 2026 holiday season, down from $796 in 2025. The survey of 3,534 US consumers found most shoppers expect to spend about the same as...

The Retail Rundown: Holiday Demand Patterns Reshape Protein Markets

October sparks a shift in the retail space as consumers move beyond grilling toward heartier meals. The seasonal transition creates opportunities for retailers to promote roasts, ground beef, pork shoulder, and other cuts used in soups, chili, and other comfort-food applications. 

With October also serving as National Pork Month, promotional activity is picking up steam. USDA’s latest Weekly Grocery Store Pork Feature Activity report shows the national pork feature rate at 92.3%, up about ten points from the previous week.

Circana reported advertised prices of $2.22/lb. for pork...

Firehouse Subs® Brings Back Its Fan-Favorite Thanksgiving Turkey Sub

The wait is over. Firehouse Subs®, the firefighter-founded restaurant brand known for its hot, hearty subs, is bringing back the fan-favorite Thanksgiving Turkey Sub to participating restaurants nationwide. After selling out across the country last year, the Thanksgiving feast-inspired sub returns by popular demand and is available now through the end of December, while supplies last, joined by a new seasonal treat: the Pecan Bar.

The Thanksgiving Turkey Sub is piled high with tender carved turkey breast, warm stuffing...

Butterball® Togetherness Report™ Reveals 2026 Thanksgiving Outlook

Butterball, LLC, the company known for the most recognized and loved* turkey brand in the U.S., today announced the findings of the 2026 Butterball Togetherness Report, which explores how hosts and guests plan to shop, cook and celebrate this Thanksgiving.

The annual holiday report reveals that 85% of consumers plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, with an anticipated celebration size of 10 people. Hosts are holding on to their traditions, with most saying even higher costs won't change their plans. Consumers are looking forward to spending time with family...

Expana Publication Schedule for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday

Expana will be observing the Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. All US offices will be closed on those days; daily reports (red meat, poultry, eggs) will not be published, and the following weekly, biweekly, and monthly reports will be impacted:

• Pork, US Pork Export Market to Mexico and Latin America, will be published on Wednesday, November 26
• Beef, APAC, will be published on Wednesday, November 26
• Beef, Certified Angus Beef, will...

North Carolina Turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, Pardoned by President Trump

WASHINGTON — National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman Jay Jandrain, president and CEO of Butterball, LLC, presented the National Thanksgiving Turkeys named Gobble and Waddle to President Donald Trump today during the 78th National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation. After receiving their formal pardons from the president in the White House’s Rose Garden Club, Gobble and Waddle will return to North Carolina to live at North Carolina State University in Raleigh...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 37 - Thanksgiving Dinner Index Up 28% in 2025 

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

On today's episode, we dive into Expana's 2025 Thanksgiving Dinner Index. 2025 has been an extraordinary year. When we look back, we’ve seen unprecedented geopolitical events unfold, tariffs, trade agreements, inflation and other economic uncertainties. How has this impacted Thanksgiving staples? Listen now!

ANALYSIS: Comparing Cage-Free Demand This Thanksgiving to Last

Cage-free wholesale values continued to rise this week as Thanksgiving baking demand surged across retail channels. Large national chains have maintained affordable shelf pricing through November, driving strong consumer sales as households prepare for the peak baking period. At some of these chains, cage-free eggs are positioned below $1.50/dozen—an uncommon and striking inversion that puts them roughly 50cts below conventional shelf prices in many other regions. In effect, shelf prices are trending lower than they were heading into Thanksgiving last year, supporting consistent foot traffic despite ongoing pressure on household budgets...

The Retail Rundown: Cheaper Turkeys Hit Shelves Despite Wholesale Price Surge

This Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers might spot some relief: retail turkey prices have eased, even as wholesale values climb toward near-record highs.

Ongoing challenges, such as persistent bird flu outbreaks and relatively low hatch rates, have limited production all year, leaving supplies exceptionally thin ahead of the holiday. 

While retailers secure turkeys well in advance to build cold-storage inventories, frozen whole-bird stocks in 2025 remain near seasonal record lows, leaving little supply cushion...

Farm Bureau: Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Declines

Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for your friends and family will cost less than last year, marking the third straight year of price declines. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person.

This is a 5% decrease from 2024. Three years of declines don’t fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in 2022.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey...

The Retail Rundown: A Season of Plenty, Except for Turkey

For retailers, this year’s holiday season is shaping up to be one of plenty. The National Retail Federation (NRF) projects November and December sales to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, underscoring consumers’ continued spending power.

“American consumers may be cautious in sentiment, yet remain fundamentally strong and continue to drive U.S. economic activity,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

While foodservice outlets are poised to capture consumer traffic on hectic days, retail prepared foods and frozen entrées are well-positioned to compete for at-home dining occasions as shoppers seek convenient, time-saving meal solutions...

Kroger Relaunches Freshgiving Meal Bundle Ahead of the Holiday Season

With the holidays just around the corner, Kroger is relaunching its Freshgiving Meal Bundle — an assortment of mostly Kroger-brand Thanksgiving staples.

"At Kroger, we believe families deserve a Thanksgiving meal that is affordable and delicious," said Mary Ellen Adcock, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer. "Especially this year, we are giving our customers the quality they expect and the value they love, ensuring everyone has a memorable holiday."

Kroger has done the hard part by compiling a list of key...