Thanksgiving Trends Are Changing Grocery Shopping Behaviors

AAA reports that nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel over Thanksgiving this year, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers and setting a new record. While the gatherings may look more like those pre-pandemic events, the table and the foods on it might look a little different.

Thanksgiving meals have always reflected the times, and they’ve evolved over the years. In the ’60s, mincemeat pies were considered the height of sophistication for the holiday. In the ’70s, Jell-O molds were a popular side dish. The 2000s have brought brussels sprouts, cauliflower, creamed kale, and wild mushroom stuffing to many tables.

Here are the trends, culinary and otherwise, that are shaping what this year’s Thanksgiving feasts will look like — and what customers will be shopping for.

Holiday Shoppers Seek Deals and Savings

As in the previous year, consumers remain focused on finding bargains this holiday season. According to Circana, 38% of shoppers will make immediate purchases if they come across a sale or have a coupon, with this trend being particularly common among households with young children. Additionally, two-thirds of shoppers plan to save money by "trading down," with 22% opting for store brands instead of name brands and choosing more affordable alternatives for their usual products.

Charcuterie boards

Credit Instagram for this one. Not everybody can bake gourmet appetizers, but just about anyone can compile a photograph-worthy spread from some combination of cheeses, fruits, cured meats, nuts, jams and crackers. More ambitious foodies can try to copy some of the elaborate Thanksgiving charcuterie boards they see on the internet, which also include beautifully presented desert boards.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options

More Americans are cutting animal products or gluten out of their diet. Thankfully, with its abundant side dishes, Thanksgiving makes it easy to accommodate them. Forget the Tofurky: stuffed squash makes for a much more tasteful, show-stopping vegetarian entree. Meanwhile, milk and butter can easily be swapped out of most side dish recipes with alternatives like oat milk and vegan butter or coconut oil.

Friendsgivings

For the last decade so, many Americans have been doing Thanksgiving twice as part of a new tradition deemed “Friendsgiving,” a term that was coined around 2008. These meals tend to be less traditional and more potluck-style than old-fashioned family Thanksgiving, and they’ve grown popular quickly. A survey found that Gen Z is even more into Friendsgivings than Millennials, with 46% of 13-39 year-old planning to host a holiday gathering.

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Locally sourced foods

Here’s another trend that’s quickly gained momentum in recent years: the Local Thanksgiving Challenge. As shoppers have grown more concerned about where their food comes from, many are using the holiday as a chance to support as many local purveyors as possible, with everything from locally sourced turkey, produce and honey. Grocers can assist them with displays that highlight local suppliers.

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Tidy, attractive displays can help shoppers easily find what they’re looking for and reduce the stress of Thanksgiving grocery shopping. Retail Space Solutions specializes in pusher display systems that automatically ensure attractive, front-facing inventory. Our solutions touch every corner of the grocery store, from the dairy, meat and candy aisles to frozen food and produce, and help eliminate false out-of-stocks — which is more important than ever during a time when stores are facing so many very real out-of-stocks.

Retail Space Solutions also offers personalized site assessments to help each store address its unique needs. When you’re looking for premium quality solutions to create attractive retail display spaces, Retail Space Solutions will work with you to identify your goals and how and where products should be placed on shelves and displays to increase sales.