Despite news reports indicating that consumers are moving away from turkey as the main protein for Thanksgiving celebrations, a Consumer Digest survey confirmed the popularity of roast turkey. The survey involved 400 Kroger consumers over the three months prior to Thanksgiving showed that turkey was overwhelmingly favored as the centerpiece. Of those surveyed, 81 percent planned turkey as their main protein with ham at 7 percent and chicken at 3 percent.
It was disconcerting to note that 11 percent of respondents had no plans to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2024. This was perhaps a reflection of family fragmentation, the growing wave of loneliness and possibly cost considerations.
Reflecting convenience, 13 percent of the respondents planned to purchase complete meals, encouraged by advertisements by supermarket chains for special Thanksgiving meal kits with both ingredients and instructions. Many retail chains offered prepared meals to serve up to ten diners.