Additional Coverage:
- Walmart quietly removes items from its Thanksgiving basket — also reduces its price by 25% (marketrealist.com)
Walmart’s Thanksgiving Basket Sees Major Changes: Fewer Items, Lower Price Tag
Bentonville, AR – As Thanksgiving approaches, many American families turn to Walmart for their holiday meal needs, relying on the retail giant’s annual Thanksgiving meal basket to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. This year, however, shoppers might notice some significant alterations to the popular offering. Walmart has quietly reconfigured its Thanksgiving basket, resulting in a 25% price reduction compared to last year, but also a substantial decrease in the number of included items.
Historically, Walmart’s Thanksgiving basket has been a staple for budget-conscious families, designed to feed ten people for under $40. It typically features holiday essentials such as a Butterball turkey, russet potatoes, and Stove Top turkey stuffing. This year, while the price has become even more attractive, the contents have been notably streamlined.
According to a report by The Street, the 2024 Thanksgiving basket contained 29 items. This year, that number has been almost halved to just 15 items.
Among the items reportedly removed are popular additions like pecan pie, sweet potatoes, mini marshmallows, celery stalks, muffin mix, and yellow onions. Furthermore, the basket now includes 12 standard dinner rolls instead of the 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls offered previously, and Kinder’s crispy fried onions have replaced French’s.
This strategic shift by Walmart is likely a direct response to the impact of tariffs on imported goods. American consumers, particularly those in middle and lower-income households, have been feeling the pinch of increased prices on everyday items.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has acknowledged this trend, stating, “We see more adjustments in middle- and lower-income households than we do with higher-income households. In discretionary categories where item prices have gone up, we see a corresponding moderation in units at the item level as customers switch to other items or, in some cases, categories.”
By reducing the number of items and subsequently the price of its Thanksgiving basket, Walmart appears to be proactively addressing potential consumer reluctance to spend more on holiday essentials. The company’s goal is likely to ensure that this crucial holiday product remains accessible and appealing to its core customer base, avoiding unsold inventory that could result from a higher-priced, more extensive offering. While some traditional favorites may be missing, the lower price point aims to keep the spirit of a budget-friendly Thanksgiving alive for many families.