The Retail Rundown: Thanksgiving Turkey Retail Prices Reported Higher Despite Wholesale Drop

With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, Urner Barry is looking back at how this year’s retail Thanksgiving sales compared to recent years. 

According to Circana data, retail turkey prices on both a discounted and non-discounted basis have consistently trended higher in the past five years. Generally, distribution has also seen an uptrend in recent years. 

Distribution is a measure that reports the distribution of discounted and non-discounted items. It takes into account the number of Universal Product Codes (UPCs) selling within a given aggregate...

Mintec Releases "Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023" Report; Read It Here

Mintec enables the world's largest food and manufacturing brands to implement more efficient and sustainable procurement strategies. We do this through our cutting-edge SaaS platform, Mintec Analytics, which delivers market prices and analysis for thousands of commodities, food ingredients and associated materials. Our data and tools empower our customers to understand prices better, analyze their spend and negotiate with confidence.

Mintec’s latest report, “Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023,” is a look at the components that make up the traditional holiday dinner...

The Retail Rundown: Feasting on Holiday Features

Thanksgiving is here and the retail segment is teeming with all things turkeys, sides, sweets, and treats!

Fittingly, turkey leads the protein category with 31.1% of total feature volume, up from 22.5% the week prior. Pork follows with 22.8%. Seafood narrowly overtakes beef for the third spot, with 18.8%. Beef claimed 17.4%, nearly flat with last week.

Mintec recently took a look at the components that make up the traditional holiday dinner in its "Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023" report. The index, which measures price fluctuations across key food commodities that make up a...

Now is the Time to Enjoy White Castle Stuffing Season

It's WCS season! That's "White Castle Stuffing" season for those not in the know. White Castle, the iconic, family-owned business, reminds people that before the bells start jingling, before the yule tides, and before everyone starts belting what they want for Christmas, Thanksgiving must be celebrated! Of course, that celebration should include a freshly baked legendary White Castle stuffing recipe.

White Castle's Original Slider Stuffing set a new standard on how Thanksgiving Day stuffing should be prepared. The recipe was first introduced in 1991 when a White...

More People Than Ever Expected to Shop During Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

An estimated 182 million people are planning to shop in-store and online from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. This figure is 15.7 million more people than last year and is the highest estimate since NRF began tracking this data in 2017.

“The Thanksgiving holiday weekend marks some of the busiest shopping days of the year, as consumers enjoy the tradition of shopping for the perfect gifts for friends and loved...

Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Down Slightly from Record High in 2022

Gathering around the table for a Thanksgiving dinner won’t take as much of a toll on your pocketbook this year compared to 2022, but the meal still reflects historically high costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 38th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10, which is $61.17 or less than $6.20 per person.

This is a 4.5% decrease from last year’s record-high average of $64.05, but a Thanksgiving meal is still...

The Retail Rundown: 2023 Thanksgiving Outlook

Thanksgiving is just one week out and grocers are bracing for a busy weekend ahead as shoppers secure any remaining needs for the holiday feast. Below, we have the latest outlook on what Turkey Day 2023 may bring.

The Star of the Show 

Shoppers this Thanksgiving may breathe a sigh of relief when looking at prices for the big bird. Last year, households shelled out more money for their turkeys due to factors including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) complications, low cold storage holdings, and inflation.

A lull in bird flu detections following the initial outbreak...

Kroger's Freshgiving Prices are Even Low, Low, Lower than Last Year's

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today shared its zero-compromise Freshgiving meal offering customers a holiday basket that includes all the staples for less than $5 per person—even more affordable than the retailer's turkey day bundle last year. Complete with pumpkin pie, turkey at the center of the plate and plenty of fresh sides, this feast is sure to please.

"No matter how families gather, Kroger's Thanksgiving is Fresh for Everyone," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO...

Majority of Thanksgiving Celebrations Predicted to Include Whole Turkeys this Year

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, Cargill's U.S.-focused Future of Turkey study indicates a return to traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, with more than 8 in 10 consumers who responded saying they plan to purchase a whole turkey this year. This marks a turnaround from previous years when consumers often purchased individual turkey parts such as turkey breasts as they exercised caution during the pandemic with smaller gatherings and celebrations.

“Americans hold onto the belief that a whole turkey should be the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends,”...

The Retail Rundown: Tuning in to Holiday Turkey Features

For this week's retail rundown, we're tuning in to holiday turkey features as Thanksgiving inches closer. Grocers are making room for the big bird in their meat cases and freezers for the millions of turkeys that will be gobbled down in two weeks. 

Seafood maintains the top spot among protein ads with 23.8% of features this week. Turkey ads captured nearly 9% of protein features this week, up from 6.9% the previous week. Within the turkey complex, frozen whole turkey features account for 56.5% of features, up from 25% a week...

Sprouts Farmers Market Partners with Instacart's FoodStorm to Enhance Holiday Catering Services

Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural, and organic food in the United States, and Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced a new partnership to launch FoodStorm, Instacart's order management system (OMS), across all of Sprouts' 400+ locations. The new partnership will help streamline Sprouts' existing catering operations and modernize its holiday inventory management, ensuring a seamless holiday season experience for its customers and store team members...

Meijer Turkey Prices Help Families Combat Inflation, Celebrate Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Meijer is stocked and ready with a wide selection of turkeys at prices that roll back the clock to lessen the impact of inflation on families.

The Midwest retailer anticipates selling 1 million turkeys this holiday season, which is the equivalent of 520 truckloads. Customers can purchase Meijer brand frozen turkeys for only 59 cents per pound through Nov. 25, which is roughly the same cost Meijer offered its customers in the 1930s, said Josh Potts, Meijer Poultry Buyer...

Spend More Time Making Family Memories with Cracker Barrel's Holiday Heat n' Serve Meals

With the average American spending over nine hours in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner from scratch, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® can handle the cooking – all season long – with convenient catering and holiday meal options for any size gathering.

Entertaining just got easier with the return Thanksgiving Heat n' Serve meals and new catering menu items like Country Fried Turkey and Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Plus, popular holiday dishes like Cinnamon Roll Pie are back by popular demand for dine-in or curbside pickup...

Maggiano's Little Italy® Celebrates the Holidays with Festive Favorites for Thanksgiving

Maggiano's Little Italy® has everyone set for the perfect dinner this Thanksgiving with delicious holiday dine-in and carryout offerings as well as seasonal fall menu features! As a brand known for bringing people around the table, Maggiano's will be open on Thanksgiving Day with an elevated dine-in menu and as well as hot and cold carryout options for up to five people.

Thanksgiving has become an increasingly popular time for the family-focused Italian-American restaurant. This year, guests are invited to celebrate the Maggiano's...

Target's Serving Up an Easy, Affordable Thanksgiving Meal for Under $25

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced how it is helping guests serve up an effortlessly delicious Thanksgiving meal that won't stretch their budgets. Starting today, guests can shop Target's Thanksgiving meal for under $25 online and in store, including the following must-have staples to serve four:

• Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (Frozen) – 10 lb.
• Good & Gather Russet Potatoes – 5 lb.
• Good & Gather Cut Green Beans – 14.5 oz.
• Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup – 22 oz.
• Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce – 14 oz...

The Fresh Market Ushers in the Thanksgiving Season Earlier Than Ever This Year!

The Fresh Market is helping its guests prepare for a fabulous Thanksgiving celebration this year, with order-ahead now available, a special holiday print edition of The Fresh Market Magazine, and a bodacious livestream featuring brand ambassador and Chef Anna Rossi.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, The Fresh Market wants to take the stress out of cooking by saving guests time in the kitchen so they can focus on what matters most this time of year: being with family and friends...

The Retail Rundown: A Nod to November

Winter is seemingly giving a nod to November, as frigid and record-cold temperatures impact much of the central and southern United States this week.

While households hunker down for the colder weather, retailers are quickening the seasonal transition to comfort foods and indoor oven cooking. Moreover, grocers are gearing up for the inpouring of holiday shoppers now that  Thanksgiving is just three short weeks away.

The holiday centerpiece—turkey—is under close watch as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu...

It’s Turkey Time: BJ’s Wholesale Club Thanks its Members with Free Thanksgiving Turkeys

BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ), a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs, today announced its annual free turkey promotion, helping members take advantage of incredible savings as they shop for their holiday essentials.

From November 1 through November 9, BJ’s members will be eligible to receive a digital coupon for a FREE fresh or frozen Butterball whole turkey when they spend $150 in the same transaction, in-club or online.

The free turkey coupon will appear in members digital coupon gallery beginning November 11...

Bob Evans Restaurants Celebrates This Holiday Season with the Return of Farmhouse Feasts

To celebrate the Thanksgiving season, Bob Evans holiday meals allow guests to spend less time cooking and more time making memories – the true meaning of the season. For years, Bob Evans has mastered their signature Thanksgiving recipes to alleviate the burden of making a Thanksgiving meal for its guests. This year, the return of Bob Evans’ Farmhouse Feasts feature a collection of holiday meals to-go that can accommodate gatherings of any size and are packed cold, ready to heat and serve in two hours or less...

Golden Corral Kicks Off The Holiday Season with All the Fixings, None of the Stressing

Golden Corral is serving up Holiday Meal solutions to fit everyone this holiday season so guests can spend more quality time with family and friends for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. The buffet chain’s holiday offering lineup includes more than just their seasonal Holiday Buffet, guests can also order an entire Holiday Meal To Go or pick and choose from their a la carte side menu, as well as receive a free $10 Bonus Card with $50 Gift Card purchases...

The More the Merrier: ALDI Cuts Prices So Families Can Save More and Seat More This Thanksgiving

To help customers spend less and seat more guests this Thanksgiving, ALDI is dishing out a big helping of savings on over 70 holiday classics. Starting Nov. 1, and lasting throughout the entire holiday season, customers will see price reductions of up to 50% on items across the store. These items include seasonal favorites like gravy, potatoes, green beans, cranberries and pumpkin pie, as well as staples such as butter and flour*. With these extra savings on top of ALDI every day...

Thanksgiving Meal Prep Questions? Jennie-O Turkey Store Has the Answers: Call 1-800-TURKEYS

The makers of the Jennie-O® turkey brand, a category leader and one of the top turkey brands in the United States, announced today that the Jennie-O 1-800-TURKEYS hotline will be available beginning Nov. 1.

From when to thaw your turkey and how to prevent an overcooked bird, to stretching portions when unexpected guests show up at your holiday gathering, 1-800-TURKEYS has the answers to these questions and more. The 1-800-TURKEYS hotline, now in its 16th year...

American Farm Bureau Federation: Turkey Prices Fall as Thanksgiving Approaches

The cost of purchasing a turkey could be lower this Thanksgiving, thanks to a drop in avian influenza cases and a recovery of the turkey population in the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg prices in the latest Market Intel report, which states the average price for an 8-to-16 pound turkey typically served for Thanksgiving was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, 22% lower than the same time last year.

“The status of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) is much...

Blue Apron’s Popular Thanksgiving Menu Returns

Blue Apron (Nasdaq: APRN), the pioneer of the meal kit industry in the U.S., is bringing back its popular Thanksgiving menu this year for a memorable and hassle-free celebration. Available to order October 9 through November 20, the chef-curated options are designed to give customers ultimate flexibility, whether it’s a traditional turkey dinner, a plant-forward vegetarian meal, a honey-glazed baked ham or a variety of festive sides.

“Every year, the culinary team combs through feedback from previous holiday offerings to listen and learn from our customers,” said John Adler...

Butterball Releases Its 2023 Thanksgiving Outlook Report

Butterball, the best known and most loved* brand of turkey in the U.S., today released its annual Thanksgiving Outlook Report, revealing consumer plans and sentiment with the holiday less than three months away.

According to the findings, people are optimistic and planning to celebrate – with turkey as the centerpiece – again this year, but inflation is top of mind for many. Notably, 79% of consumers who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving expect inflation to impact their plans. However, holiday hosts remain committed to serving turkey, with 82% still planning to serve it...