On 15 October, Sam’s Club, the wholesale retailer owned by Walmart, unveiled what it has termed its “biggest Thanksgiving meal yet.” This festive offering consists of an extensive 11-item package designed to cater to the needs of families during the holiday season. With traditional fare such as turkey and ham, alongside an array of side dishes, the meal is priced at approximately £160, making it roughly £10 per person for a feast intended to serve 16.
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The carefully curated meal claims to provide significant time savings for busy families. According to the retailer, preparing the ready-made meal takes just under two hours — a stark contrast to the seven to nine hours required for a fully homemade alternative. The festive package will be available for customers starting 28 October through the Sam’s Club app or website, giving members the option to customise their orders by adding or removing items from the bundle.
Included in the meal are several components aimed at satisfying a range of tastes. Highlights feature a boneless carver ham, hickory smoked turkey, and various side dishes such as Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, and two servings of green beans with dried cranberries and almonds. Other offerings include mac and cheese, sweet corn with garlic butter, cranberry crunch salad, yeast dinner rolls, a charcuterie entertainment tray, as well as two 12-inch pumpkin pies for dessert.
Ashley Peoples, senior director of product development at Sam’s Club, emphasised that the meal aims to not only provide value but also to allow families more quality time together during this busy season. In light of feedback gathered from last year’s Thanksgiving, the company took members’ preferences into account which revealed a desire for more protein options, enhanced gravy, and snacks to nibble on while preparing the meal. This input led to a greater emphasis on side dishes for this year’s offering.
The development process for the meal involved extensive testing, including taste tests conducted amongst employees and members. In one of these assessments held in Dallas, nearly 100 participants compared the meal against a backdrop adorned with festive decorations — a clear effort to immerse testers in a holiday atmosphere. Notably, the gravy was particularly scrutinised throughout the testing phase, with the team conducting four rounds of trials to achieve the desired flavour and texture reminiscent of traditional home-cooked recipes.
In a demonstration of competitiveness in the holiday meal market, Aldi also revealed its Thanksgiving offer just the day prior, on 14 October. The budget supermarket’s meal deal boasts a classic full Thanksgiving feast for under £39, featuring a 16-pound turkey accompanied by a selection of side dishes, including stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, peas, carrots, celery, dinner rolls, and the necessary ingredients for crafting a homemade pumpkin pie.
As preparations for Thanksgiving ramp up, both retailers aim to ease the stress associated with holiday cooking by providing ready-to-serve options. Sam’s Club’s initiative, in particular, reflects a growing trend among consumers who are keen to simplify celebrations while still enjoying the traditional elements that make Thanksgiving such a cherished occasion.
With the festive shopping season approaching, shoppers may be on the lookout not just for meal deals but for convenience and quality, signalling a potentially transformative year for how holiday dinners are prepared and enjoyed. As families gather around the table this Thanksgiving, they may find themselves with more time to connect with loved ones, thanks to offerings designed to streamline meal planning during this time-honoured holiday.