Friendsgiving Fetes Boost Holiday Sales

According to new data from Chicago-based IRI, Friendsgiving celebrations (a Thanksgiving-themed party celebrated either before or after Turkey Day with friends) are on the rise. Held in addition to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, these gatherings offer grocers fresh opportunities for deli foodservice sales and more throughout the month.

“Retailers who think it’s just Thursday with a big bird are missing out,” said Jonna Parker, principal of the IRI Fresh Center of Excellence.

The Fresh Market in Greensboro, N.C., is one grocer not missing out this holiday season. “This year, whether you’re hosting or attending your group’s Friendsgiving, specialty grocer The Fresh Market has both traditional and fun, festive dishes to take your celebration up a notch from start to finish,” said the grocer’s website.

The Fresh Market is rolling out five new items destined to become Friendsgiving traditions:

Holiday Turkey Pie. Exclusive to The Fresh Market, the Holiday Turkey Pie contains all the traditional Thanksgiving foods in one, so customers have more time to spend with friends and less time in the kitchen. The pie combines layers of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberries into a flaky crust for a mouthful of Thanksgiving in every bite.

The Fresh Market will begin selling its Holiday Turkey Pie in the deli department beginning Nov. 6. It is available by the single-serve slice or as a half-pie. Each slice is 460 calories compared to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, during which Americans consume between 3,000 to 4,500 calories, according to the Calorie Control Council.

Keogh’s Roast Turkey and Secret Stuffing Chips. Made in Ireland and only available during the holidays, these chips are seasoned with familiar stuffing ingredients and flavors.

Turducken. The “ultimate, untraditional entree for Friendsgiving,” The Fresh Market’s Turducken is handmade in-store and consists of a boneless duck breast stuffed inside a boneless chicken breast, stuffed inside a boneless turkey breast. It’s also packed with garlic and herb dressing and andouille sausage throughout for even more flavor. Turducken will be available by the pound during the week of Thanksgiving.

Take-and-Bake Brie. The Fresh Market’s take-and-bake brie is the ideal easy entertaining appetizer to kick things off for Friendsgiving. Wrapped in a buttery puff pastry, the creamy imported brie serves 4-6 people and is topped with a combination of fruit preserves and almonds or walnuts. It is available in three varieties, including Apricot Almond, Strawberry Walnut or Raspberry Almond.

Cream Pies. The grocer is offering new made-from-scratch cream pies available in the flavors of Pumpkin Praline, Bananas Foster, Chocolate Silk Peanut Butter and French Chocolate Silk. The 9-inch cream pies are decorated by hand and topped with real whipped cream. The Fresh Market will donate $1 from every cream pie sold to its national charitable partner, Feeding America, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 30.

In addition to the new fan favorites, The Fresh Market is also promoting traditional whole turkeys, spiral sliced hams, party platters and classic side dishes such as whipped sweet potatoes, roasted butternut squash with pecans and cranberries, garden green beans and traditional herb stuffing. Additional information on these offerings and more can be found online at www.thefreshmarket.com/friendsgiving.