KC grocery stores offer inflation discounts on Thanksgiving food: How prices stack up
Thanksgiving is almost here, and it’s pricier than ever. Inflation has taken a toll on all of your favorite Thanksgiving foods.
Ted Schroeder, an agriculture economics professor at Kansas State University, said that the cost of getting food from the farm to processing plants to store shelves has increased, and it’s driving up food prices.
“There’s only one direction for the retail prices to go,” Schroeder said.
Food inflation alone is up 10-12% compared to last year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and that’s across the board with every product. Different products, such as potatoes, are up 15%. November usually sees low prices for potatoes, but since the harvest season wasn’t as good as predicted, it costs that much more.
Poultry prices, such as turkey, are up at around the same percentages, but Schroeder said some stores will drop turkey prices around this time to get people to buy it from them, even if they lose money.
Some local and national grocery stores are giving discounts on popular Thanksgiving items to help families’ wallets out over the holidays. Here are some of those specials and the prices for common Thanksgiving dinner items at a few stores around Kansas City.
PRICE CHOPPER
Locally-owned Price Chopper grocery stores have deals for Thanksgiving. You can earn rewards points on items you buy this week, and use those points to grab items for cheap or for free, such as a KC Pride pumpkin pie for 800 rewards points. In addition to what you can get for rewards points, the stores are offering the following discounts for everyone:
Turkey: 99 cents per pound, but you have to spend at least $25 total on your purchase to get that price. It’s also free if you use 1200 rewards points.
Sweet potatoes: 49 cents per pound
Stuffing mix: Two for $4, or you can get one for free by using 145 rewards points.
Butter: Two for $4.49, or you can get one for free by using 420 rewards points.
Frozen pies: $4.99.
Pumpkin pie: $6.99
Chicken broth: $1.99, or free using 180 rewards points.
Dinner rolls: Two for $7 with Sister Schubert. Rhodes Rolls cost $4.69, and King’s Hawaiian Rolls cost between $3.99-7.99. You can earn 10 points for buying a $3.99 pack of King’s Hawaiian Rolls, or get a free $7.99 pack for using 580 rewards points.
HY-VEE
Hy-Vee stores around Kansas City have savings on your favorite Thanksgiving foods. For instance, you can get a free frozen turkey if you buy a frozen ham at $5.99 while supplies last.
Certain deals apply to their Fuel Saver rewards program. A Bakery Fresh pumpkin pie can get you up to 5 cents off per gallon if you buy a 10-inch or 12-inch pie.
Turkey: $1.69 per pound, but butterball turkey costs $2.29 per pound.
Stuffing mix: Stove Top costs $1.68.
Can of cranberry sauce: Ocean Spray brand costs $2.39 for 14 ounces and $1.69 for 8 ounces. Hy-Vee brand costs $1.99 for 14 ounces.
Can of green beans: Hy-Vee brand costs 39 cents.
Salad mix: Dole brands all cost $3.99.
A pound of potatoes: Hy-Vee brand costs $1.88 for a 5-pound bag, and 57 cents per pound for sweet potatoes.
Rolls: $7 for two 12-ounce packages of Hawaiian rolls
Butter: Hy-Vee brand costs $2.99, and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter brand costs $3.49.
Chicken broth: Hy-vee brand costs $3 for two.
A pre-made pumpkin pie: Marie Callender brand costs $5.99, and Sara Lee brand costs $6.99.
WALMART
Walmart rolled back prices to 2021 for traditional Thanksgiving items to help families afford meals without paying more than they did last year. These prices will stay this way until Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.
Turkey: $1.48 per pound.
Stuffing mix: $1.98 for Stove Top, or 88 cents for the Walmart brand.
A can of cranberry sauce: Ocean Spray costs $1.76, and fresh cranberries cost $1.50 per bag.
A can of green beans: Walmart brand costs 50 cents, and Libby’s cost $1.42 for a can.
A pound of potatoes: $1.24, or buy a 5-pound bag for $2.78.
Salad mix: $3.98
Rolls: $3.18 for a 12-pack
Butter: Walmart brand is $4.48, and Land O’ Lakes butter is $5.78.
Chicken broth: Walmart brand is $1, and Swanson chicken broth is $2.52.
Pre-made pumkpin pie: Walmart brand is $4.98, and Marie Callender is $5.98.
ALDI
Like Walmart, Aldi is rolling back its prices on common Thanksgiving items, but their prices reflect how much it cost in 2019. Unless stated otherwise, each product price listed is from Aldi’s store brand.
Turkey: $1.79 per pound
Stuffing mix: 75 cents for each box
A can of cranberry sauce: $1.45
A can of green beans: 49 cents
Salad mix: starts as low as $2
Potatoes: A 10-pound bag costs $2.99
Rolls: L’oven’s dinner rolls costs 99 cents, while a package of Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls costs $4
Butter: $2.99
Chicken broth: $1.29
A pre-made frozen chocolate crème pie and a Bake Shop apple pie each cost $4.99.
Tons of stores in the Kansas City area will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, including the stores listed above. Check out our list of what’s open on Thanksgiving if you forget one of these essential items.
If you’re in need of a Thanksgiving meal, these places can help you get one in time for the holiday.
