Here's which Triangle supermarket has the best prices on your Thanksgiving turkey, potatoes and pie
Inflation is slowing, which means your Thanksgiving meal will cost a little bit less this year. According to the American Farm Bureau, a feast for 10 will cost $61.07, down from the historically high price of $64.05 in 2022.
The cost in 2023 remains much higher than the $53.31 it was in 2021.
5 On Your Side spent time visiting five popular stores in the Triangle – Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart and Whole Foods – to find out which store offered the very best prices on Thanksgiving staples.
We looked at the cost of cranberries, potatoes, frozen turkey, green beans and pumpkin pie, sticking to the same brands and sizes (with just a few exceptions).
Cranberries cost least at Walmart
The love-it-or-hate-it Thanksgiving staple, cranberries, were cheapest at Walmart, where a can of Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry was $1.98.
Food Lion, Publix and Harris Teeter all offered the same can for about $2.50. Whole Foods Brand was most expensive at $2.79. Keep in mind they’re organic, usually a price spiker.
Food Lion has cheapest 5-lb. bag of potatoes
Smashed, mashed, fried or sliced, Thanksgiving is not complete without plenty of potatoes.
Food Lion offers a 5-pound bag of golden potatoes for $2.99.
There are similar options at Walmart, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods, costing between $5 and $7.
A bag of red potatoes is on sale at Publix for $3.99.
Turkey prices vary widely at Triangle supermarkets
5 On Your Side looked for the most inexpensive, frozen option, and there was a wide range.
All stores sell turkey based on a price per pound, and we wanted to buy a 16-pound bird.
Food Lion came in at $4.64, Publix was not far behind at $6.25. Harris Teeter and Walmart both in the $15 range, and a turkey at Whole Foods will cost you $31.84. No, that turkey is not organic.
Spend less green on greens at Food Lion
A pound of green beans at Food Lion will cost you $1.49; that same amount is $1.98 at Walmart, and $2 on sale at Publix. It goes up from there, with Whole Foods at $5.32 per pound. Keep in mind they’re organic and pre-trimmed.
Publix pie is least expensive
Most stores offered a 1-pound, 6-ounce pie, except Walmart. Their pie came in at over 2 pounds. The least expensive? Publix at $4.49.
When we added up the items at each store for all five Thanksgiving staples, Food Lion was the cheapest at $17.09; Publix was next best at $19; Walmart and Harris Teeter were in the $30 range, and Whole Foods the most expensive more than $50.
Cost breakdown: Thanksgiving staples at Triangle markets
HARRIS TEETER:
- Cranberries: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry $2.39
- Turkey: 99 cents per pound, 16 pounds = $15.84
- Potatoes: 5-pound bag Gold Potatoes $5.49
- Green Beans: $7.99 for a 2-pound prewashed microwavable bag, $3.99 per pound
- Pumpkin Pie: $6.99 for 1 pound 5.5 ounces
- Total: $34.70
FOOD LION:
- Cranberries: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry $2.18
- Turkey: 29 cents per pound, 16 pounds = $4.64
- Potatoes: 5-pound bag Gold Potatoes $2.99
- Green Beans: $1.49 per pound
- Pumpkin Pie: 1 pound 6 oz $5.79
- Total: $17.09
PUBLIX:
- Cranberries: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry $2.33
- Turkey: 39 cents a pound, 16 pounds = $6.25
- Potatoes: 5-pound bag Red Potatoes* $3.99
- Green Beans: $2 per pound
- Pumpkin Pie: 1 pound 6 oz = $4.49
- Total: $19.06
WALMART:
- Cranberries: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry $1.98
- Turkey: 98 cents per pound, 16 pounds = $15.68
- Potatoes: 5-pound bag Gold Potatoes $5.17
- Green Beans: $1.98 per pound
- Pumpkin Pie: 2 pounds 5 ounces $6.42
- Total: $31.23
WHOLE FOODS:
- Cranberries: Whole Food’s brand Organic Jellied Cranberry $2.79
- Turkey: $1.99 per pound, 16 pounds = $31.84
- Potatoes: Yellow Potatoes 1.39 per pound = $6.95
- Green Beans: $3.99 for 12 ounces or $5.32 per pound. Keep in mind these are pre-trimmed and organic.
- Pumpkin Pie: 1 pound 6 oz = $6.42
- Total: $53.32
