Grocery chains vied for a place on Thanksgiving tables with turkey dinner deals and store brands

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. bundle / ˈbʌn dl / (n.) – a group of products or services sold together at a single or lesser price
    Example:

    The internet company offers a bundle with a streaming site membership and phone services.


  2. casserole / ˈkæs əˌroʊl / (n.) – a dish made by baking a combination of ingredients such as meat, noodles, and vegetables in a deep, covered container at low heat
    Example:

    The beef casserole smelled delicious and had a golden brown top after baking for almost three hours.


  3. put off / pʊt ɔf / (phrasal v.) – to make someone dislike someone/something or to discourage someone from doing or liking something
    Example:

    Many shoppers choose to buy holiday gifts online because they were put off by the crowded mall.


  4. perception / pərˈsɛp ʃən / (n.) – a belief or opinion that many people believe
    Example:

    People’s perceptions of the new policy vary depending on their personal experiences.


  5. benchmark / ˈbɛntʃˌmɑrk / (n.) – something that can be used for assessment or comparison of things
    Example:

    The top tech company serves as the benchmark for the entire industry, influencing the practices of all other tech companies.


Article

Read the text below.

Walmart, Target, Aldi and other grocers competed for a place on holiday tables with turkey dinner deals and other promotions to tempt Americans who haven’t recovered from recent food price inflation.


Walmart, the nation’s largest food retailer, bundled the makings of a traditional turkey feast into a meal deal three years ago. This year, the 29-item offer, which included a frozen turkey and ingredients for side dishes, cost less than $55 (the exact total depends on the region) and was intended to serve eight. That calculates to less than $7 per person. Last year’s two bundles had different items, but Walmart said the total price of this year’s selected products was 3.5% lower than it was a year ago.


“Some of the holiday’s most special moments take place around the dinner table,” John Laney, executive vice president of food at Walmart U.S., said in a recent statement. “We are committed to offering customers even deeper savings.”


Target’s version for four people cost $20, $5 less than the company’s 2023 Thanksgiving meal, and included a frozen turkey, stuffing mix and canned green beans and canned jellied cranberry sauce. Aldi offers a frozen Butterball turkey with gravy mix as well as pumpkin ingredients for pumpkin pie and ingredients for side dishes like sweet potato casserole. The German-owned supermarket chain priced it at $47 and said that was less than what it charged for the same items in 2019.


Comparing the respective menus to determine which represented the best value is difficult since recommended serving sizes and contents vary. But the promotions, introduced earlier than ever and at a time when many households remained put off by higher prices, underscored the importance of Thanksgiving to grocers, analysts said.


While consumer perceptions of grocery prices are based on the cost of staples like eggs and milk, “the Thanksgiving meal has become essentially a new benchmark,” Jason Goldberg, chief commerce strategy officer at Publicis Groupe, a global marketing and communications company.


It’s the occasion for the second-largest holiday meal for retailers behind the feasts that accompany the winter holidays.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • For Thanksgiving, Walmart, Target, Aldi, and other grocers offered dinner deals and other promotions for Americans who are affected by recent food price inflation. What do you think of food prices in your country (ex. very expensive, affordable)? Is food price inflation causing a problem for people in your country? Do you think such promotions by grocers help consumers? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Holiday meals are more expensive now because of inflation. How do rising prices affect how you celebrate holidays or special occasions? What are some ways to enjoy holidays without spending too much money? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie are some of the staples in the Thanksgiving meal in the U.S. What is a traditional holiday meal in your country? What is the meaning behind these food items? Discuss.
  • Do you think food is an important part of holiday celebrations? Why or why not? Is it necessary to prepare them? Can you still celebrate holidays even without preparing a lot of food? Discuss.