Target, Walmart and The Fresh Market cook up holiday meal solutions

Grocery retailers such as Target, Walmart and The Fresh Market are following up Thanksgiving specials with some meal savings for the winter holidays.

Target on Tuesday unveiled this year’s Holiday Meal for Under $25, which encompasses hickory smoked ham with honey-and-spice glaze and six fixings plus dessert. Serving four people, the meal package is available in stores and online through Dec. 25.

Private-label items anchor the Holiday Meal Under $25, led by the 6- to 10-lbs. Market Pantry spiral-cut, bone-in ham ($9.90), Good & Gather brand russet potatoes (5 lbs. for $2.99) and frozen gold-and white corn (99 cents), and Favorite Day Demi French bread ($2.69) and Favorite Day Holiday peppermint sandwich cookies ($4). Rounding out the package are Del Monte fresh-cut green beans ($1.59) and Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup ($1.39).

Minneapolis-based Target said it also has rolled out hundreds of new seasonal items, with half of its holiday food and beverage assortment priced at $5 or less. That includes $5 sides and desserts like Good & Gather broccoli-and-cheese veggie tots and frozen roasted sweet potato chunks plus Favorite Day Holiday peppermint bark and holiday sea salt and milk chocolate caramel desserts.

Other Favorite Day holiday treats now available include Favorite Day Holiday Rudolph’s Mix indulgent snack mix ($11), Belgian milk chocolate bark with holiday sprinkles ($1.50), chocolate truffles gift card holder ($5), peppermint pretzel rods dipped in white fudge ($5), decadent holiday chocolates ($13) and peppermint candy canes ($2). Target, too, is offering a collection of gourmet food and beverages for the holidays from British retailer Marks & Spencer, such as the M&S shortbread biscuit light-up house ($12.99), Scottish shortbread biscuit bus tin ($14.99), gingerbread bus kit ($24.99)  and Bellante prosecco wine ($14.99).

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“Our guests turn to Target during special seasonal moments for that combination of value and joy that sets us apart," Target Chief Food and Beverage Officer Rick Gomez said in a statement. “We saw that again over Thanksgiving, so we’re building on that success by delivering even more of what they love: a delicious holiday meal for under $25. And when you add in our free curbside pickup service, and same-day delivery via Shipt, we’re making it easier than ever for our guests to get their shopping done so they can spend more time celebrating with loved ones.”

Walmart's full "from scratch" holiday meal basket, serving 8 to 10 people, includes 30 items and costs around $77. / Photo courtesy of Walmart

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Walmart extends holiday meal bundles

Walmart, meanwhile, said it’s now extending holiday meal deals announced in mid-October for Thanksgiving to remain available through Christmas.

The three meal options include a package of meal components for customers who like to cook from scratch (turkey and ham entrees); a convenience-focused meal with ready-to-bake-options (turkey and ham entrees); and a private-label-only meal bundle, serving six people, for shoppers seeking additional savings (turkey entree). The latter package is based on Walmart's Great Value brand.

All three packages include all the necessary ingredients and side dishes (see chart below), and the from-scratch and convenience bundles also include dessert.

Source: Walmart

Walmart said the from-scratch basket, serving eight to 10 people, features 30 items and carries an average cost of $77, or around $8.50 per person. Also serving eight to 10 people, the convenience basket includes 21 ready-to-bake and ready-to-eat offerings for an average cost of $70, or about $7.75 per person. And the private-brand basket encompasses 10 items for less than $30, serving six people for roughly $5 per person.

Atop the list of The Fresh Market's prepared meal packages is the Ultimate Holiday Meal, with a fully cooked turkey or sliced ham entree and serving 12 to 14 people. / Photo courtesy of The Fresh Market

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The Fresh Market marks the occasion

Specialty grocer The Fresh Market has made its list (and hopes shoppers are checking it twice) of occasion-based prepared meals plus all the sides for the Christmas season, with packages serving from two to 14 people.

Topping the list is the Ultimate Holiday Meal, which serves 12 to 14 people and offers customers a choice of a fully cooked turkey or boneless sliced ham entree plus all the sides for $199.99, or less than $15 per person. Members of the Greensboro, North Carolina-based chain’s Ultimate Loyalty Experience program save $10.

Other meal deals for home gatherings include the Traditional Holiday Meal with a fully cooked turkey entree serving eight to 10 people for $99.99 ($10 per person);
Essential Ham Meal serving three to five people for $74.99 ($14 per person); Essential Holiday Meal with a cooked turkey breast entree serving three to five $74.99 ($15 per person); Holiday Ham Meal serving eight to 10 for $99.99 ($10 per person); and
Holiday Brunch with a quiche lorraine entree serving four people for $19.99 ($5 per person).

New this year from The Fresh Market is the Holiday Turkey Market Meal Kit for 2, which includes turkey breast medallions, mashed sweet potatoes, wild rice pilaf, peppercorn gravy, green beans, seasoning and olive oil, for $19.99, or about $10 per person. Prepared food packages for a cozier two-person gathering include the Prime Rib Meal for $49.99 ($25 per person) and the Oven-Ready Low Country Boil—crab clusters, shrimp, potatoes and corn on the cob—for $29.99 ($14.99 per person).

A-la-carte standing rib roast, whole beef tenderloin, turkey and ham entrees, as well as side dishes, also are available for ordering in advance online or in stores through Dec. 21, The Fresh Market noted. Customers can pick up their meals at stores from Dec. 21 to 24. The grocer said its 2023 Holiday Meals will come in free, reusable thermal boxes, while supplies last. Curbside pickup and delivery via Instacart, DoorDash and UberEats also are available for holiday shopping, the retailer added.

*Editor's Note: The original version of this article included a “12 Days of Holiday Meal Bundles" promotion announced by Albertsons Cos. However, after the article was posted, the company said it was shelving the meal bundle offers and going with a different grocery savings promotion for December.