These retailers are competing to offer cheapest Thanksgiving turkeys as recession looms — here's where to get discounts

The rising costs are the result of a variety of factors ranging from farmers facing supply shortages and drought, to an avian flu outbreak impacting turkey populations.

Source: Insider

Walmart announced on Thursday that it will sell Thanksgiving staples at "last year's price" in an effort to help customers curb rising costs.

John Laney, executive vice president of the Walmart US food division, wrote in a post on the company website that the retailer is "removing inflation on an entire basket containing Thanksgiving items."

Prices on everything from frozen turkeys to canned cranberry sauce will be rolled back and set based on average costs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 26, 2021. (Though it's worth noting that even 2021 prices of turkey were 13% higher than they were in 2019.)

According to Laney, the company has been working to "ensure a strong supply for all the holiday mealtime essentials" amid continued supply chain strains. To do, the company has been working closely with suppliers and monitoring demand, and even anticipating new demographics like the rise of Gen Z turkey buyers.

"Our approach this holiday helps make sure customers don't have to compromise on what matters: we're keeping prices low and our assortment strong to serve them all season long," Laney wrote.

Already known for its bargain grocery prices, Aldi is taking price slashing one step further than Walmart with its "Thanksgiving Price Rewind" that reverts costs to pre-pandemic 2019 averages.

The company announced earlier this week that "holiday favorites ranging from appetizers, desserts, sides and beverages" will be available at up to a 30% discount, in line with 2019 prices, according to a press release.

The discounts began on Nov. 2 and will continue both in-store and online through Nov. 29.

"We expect to welcome tens of millions of customers in our stores this Thanksgiving season, and we want them to know they can count on us," Dave Rinaldo, president of Aldi US, said in a statement.

Lidl is offering Thanksgiving baskets that feed up to 10 people for under $30, the company announced on Thursday.

The discount is available through Lidl's loyalty program, which is free to anyone to join, for as long as supplies last.

According to the company, the items were selected based on those included in the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey. The price was set at a marked discount from the 2021 average basket cost of $53, according to AFBF's findings.

"We hope our low prices give families some financial relief as they come together this holiday season," Stefan Schwarz, Lidl US chief product officer, said in a statement.