Stores Are Offering Awesome Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Deals. The Winner: American Families

As Thanksgiving approaches, grocery chains across the U.S. are vying for a spot at your holiday dinner table. From Walmart to Aldi and Meijer, retailers are engaging in price wars, offering bundle deals and value-packed promotions to attract budget-conscious shoppers still feeling the effects of inflation. At the heart of these deals is the Thanksgiving turkey, a centerpiece that grocers hope will lure customers into their stores for a complete holiday feast.

Walmart, the largest U.S. food retailer, has been leading the charge with its bundled meal deals. This year, Walmart offers a 29-item meal deal that includes a frozen turkey, side dishes, and desserts for less than $55, feeding eight people. That’s under $7 per person, and Walmart has extended the availability of this deal until Christmas Eve. Target, meanwhile, is offering a Thanksgiving turkey meal for four priced at $20, which is $5 less than last year. Their bundle includes a frozen turkey, stuffing mix, and canned goods like green beans and cranberry sauce. These promotions are not only enticing for consumers but also set the tone for the holiday shopping season.

What Other Supermarket Chains Are Offering

Aldi, known for its low prices, has stepped up with a Thanksgiving turkey bundle priced at $47, which includes a frozen Butterball and ingredients for sides like sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie. Meijer, a Midwest chain, is advertising a Thanksgiving family meal for $37, feeding four to six people, alongside frozen turkeys priced as low as 49 cents per pound. These deals are meant to cater to varying budgets while promoting convenience for shoppers who want a complete meal without overspending.

Despite these offers, comparing them isn’t always straightforward. Different stores bundle items differently, and portion sizes can vary. Analysts suggest that these meal deals serve as benchmarks for grocery chains, signaling value to price-conscious shoppers during a critical holiday period. According to retail intelligence provider Datasembly, the average cost of a 15-item Thanksgiving turkey meal is $65.51 this year, down 3% from last year but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic prices.

Do Prices Matter When it Comes to  Thanksgiving Turkey Dinners? 

Thanksgiving represents the second-largest holiday sales boost for grocers, trailing only the winter holidays. Last year, Thanksgiving week drove an additional $2.4 billion in grocery sales compared to average weeks. Grocery chains are leveraging deals on Thanksgiving turkeys and bundled meals to capture this surge in spending while creating goodwill among customers. Value-driven promotions aim to ease inflationary pressures on households while enticing shoppers to spend on other items beyond the holiday staples.

Consumers increasingly turn to these deals, with reports suggesting they now buy half of their Thanksgiving ingredients on promotion, double the percentage from 2022. These strategies make shopping easier for customers and encourage larger basket sizes, benefiting grocers. However, retailers are also responding to shifting consumer preferences, with many opting for store brands to save costs. Walmart’s launch of its Bettergoods line earlier this year reflects this trend, targeting younger, budget-conscious shoppers.

No Matter Who Offers the Best Deal, the American Consumer Wins

The competition among grocery chains is fierce, but the ultimate winner is the American consumer. Promotions from multiple retailers mean shoppers can choose deals that best suit their budgets and preferences. Whether it's Walmart’s extensive meal bundle, Aldi’s affordable options, or Meijer’s rock-bottom turkey prices, households have more choices than ever to prepare a memorable Thanksgiving turkey feast without breaking the bank.

Shoppers who mix and match name-brand and store-brand items can stretch their dollars further. For example, while store-brand items are typically less expensive, some name-brand staples like cranberry sauce are priced lower than their store-brand counterparts this year. This flexibility allows families to personalize their Thanksgiving menus while maximizing savings.

Which grocery chain do you think offers the best Thanksgiving value this year? Tell us what you think!