Ahead of Turkey Day, retail data science company 84.51 °’s Consumer Digest: The Future of Grocery Shopping, October 2024, surveys Kroger shoppers about their plans for this year, especially for Thanksgiving.
How are People Celebrating the 2024 Thanksgiving?
46% of those surveyed said they’ll be guests at someone else’s house, 29% will host the Thanksgiving meal, and 4% will go out to eat at a restaurant. Only 11% don’t plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.
Prepping for the Thanksgiving Feast
Most shoppers (81%) will purchase a turkey for Thanksgiving, and 44% will prepare their meals using a mix of homemade and store-bought items. 25% of shoppers say they will make a meal prepared entirely from scratch, and 12% will make a meal entirely from store-bought items. 52% of shoppers say they will begin cooking the dinner the night before Thanksgiving.
On the night before Thanksgiving, many people start preparing the holiday meal, with 52% of individuals dedicating their time to this task. Others opt for relaxation, with 48% watching TV or movies. Cleaning the house is a priority for 31%, while 25% prefer to gather with friends and family. A smaller portion, 14%, enjoy playing games.
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Traditional Dishes vs. New Inspiration
20% of shoppers say they are very likely to try a new recipe this Thanksgiving, while 24% are unlikely or not likely at all. For those who are planning to experiment, they will seek inspiration from different sources, including recipe/food websites (60%), cookbooks (38%), Pinterest (37%), family/friend recommendations (34%), cooking shows (26%) or Instagram (22%).
What about the 2024 Thanksgiving Leftovers?
73% of those surveyed say they’ll eat them as is, while 55% will use them for sandwiches, 39% will give them to family or friends, 24% will use them for casseroles/pot pies, and 20% will freeze them.