An 8-pound Butterball, brand-name sides and pie fixings can land at your door for less than a takeout order, and the clock is already running.

Thanksgiving dinner has a way of growing. A cousin brings a plus-one, an aunt decides she is sitting this year out, and suddenly the grocery list doubles. Amazon is betting that plenty of households would rather skip the crowded aisles, and the sticker shock, while pulling the whole spread together.

The Seattle-based retailer is selling a complete Thanksgiving meal for $25, built around an 8-pound turkey with side dishes and dessert ingredients included. The package is available through Nov. 26, while supplies last, in more than 2,300 U.S. cities and towns where Amazon offers same-day fresh-grocery delivery. Orders of $25 or more qualify for free same-day delivery, which means the bird could be sitting in the freezer within hours of checkout.

What Comes in the Box

The bundle leans on brands that have anchored holiday tables for generations. Shoppers get a frozen Butterball turkey, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce, McCormick turkey gravy mix, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Stove Top stuffing, Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, French’s Crispy Fried Onions and Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Milk.

Amazon’s own grocery label fills in the rest with a 5-pound bag of russet potatoes, canned corn and green beans, carrots, crescent rolls, pie crusts and organic pumpkin puree. Taken together, that covers mashed potatoes, a green bean casserole, stuffing and a pumpkin pie, though plenty of seasoned home cooks will treat the list as a starting point rather than the final word.

Jason Buechel, who leads Amazon’s worldwide grocery stores and serves as chief executive of Whole Foods Market, pitched the offer as a way to take the stress out of holiday shopping so families can spend more of their energy on being together. Because the meal is sold through Amazon’s regular grocery service, customers can also toss paper towels, dish soap and other household needs into the same order.

Amazon Discounts Go Well Beyond the $25 Meal

For hosts feeding a bigger crowd, the turkey deals may matter more than the bundle. Frozen turkeys are priced at 79 cents per pound or less through Nov. 26, and fresh turkeys drop to 99 cents per pound or less from Nov. 14 through Nov. 26.

The company is also selling Thanksgiving staples for under $4 and cutting 40% off charcuterie and party snacks through Nov. 14. Starting Nov. 15 and running through the holiday, prepared side dishes are 40% off as well, a lifeline for anyone who would rather not spend Wednesday night peeling potatoes. Select disposable tableware, baking supplies and food storage containers are marked down too, which should help with the inevitable leftover plates.

Savings for Families Watching Every Dollar

Holiday hosting can strain any household budget, and Amazon is extending deeper savings to some shoppers. Through its Amazon Access program, customers who receive qualifying government assistance, along with those who verify their income, can save 15% to 20% on select groceries and everyday essentials.

That discount sits alongside an expanding lineup of low-cost store brands. Amazon said its Amazon Grocery and Amazon Saver labels now carry more than 1,200 products combined, with the vast majority priced below $5.

The Bigger Fight for Your Grocery Dollar

The Thanksgiving promotion is part of a broader effort by Amazon to win a larger share of what Americans spend on food. Over the past six months, the company has added more than 6,000 items to its same-day grocery service, including fresh produce, pantry staples and products from hundreds of new brands. Shelves now mix private-label goods from Amazon Grocery and 365 by Whole Foods Market with household names like Pillsbury and Birds Eye.

Fresh food has quietly become the engine of the business. Amazon said all 10 of its best-selling same-day delivery items last quarter were fresh groceries, with bananas, grapes, blueberries, eggs and chicken among the fastest movers. Its same-day fulfillment centers stock tens of thousands of grocery and household essentials, and shoppers can pair them with millions of other eligible items, making the service useful for decorating and entertaining as well as cooking.

A Little Relief at the Pump

For families hitting the highway to get home for the holiday, Amazon is sweetening the trip as well. Prime members can save 20 cents per gallon on one fuel purchase every Friday through Jan. 29 at participating stations. That is double the program’s usual 10-cent discount, and a small but welcome break as holiday travel picks up.

Source: Mass Market Retailers