Aldi takes over Walmart with cheaper Thanksgiving basket

As Thanksgiving approaches, Aldi and Walmart (WMT0.00%) compete to provide affordable meals and advertise that families can celebrate without them spend too much.

Aldi said it was offering it cheapest thanksgiving basket in five years. For about $47, shoppers can prepare a meal for ten people, which works out to about $4.70 per person. The discount food retailer said the “inflation-busting” meal could provide much-needed relief, particularly as food prices have risen 50% since 2019.

Aldi CEO Jason Hart emphasized that “grocery prices are still a top priority for customers” and that “25% of U.S. households shop at Aldi,” saying the retailer wants to offer a traditional meal that families and friends can enjoy does not force you to “reduce”.

The holiday shopping list at Aldi includes a Butterball turkey with seasoning, gravy, roll, mac & cheese, stuffing and traditional sides like cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Meanwhile, Walmart has launched its own Thanksgiving meal at an “even cheaper price than last year”. For about $7 per person, customers can purchase a meal for eight people, totaling less than $56. Notably, the retail giant offers 29 items in the cart, including a turkey priced at $0.88 per pound.

Walmart said the “inflation-free” meal will be available in-store and online, with options for pickup and delivery. If shoppers are feeling festive, they can also “gift or gift” the meal to a loved one. Like Aldi, Walmart noted that “grocery prices remain top of mind for customers.”

Aldi and Walmart's Thanksgiving deals are timely, especially as inflation forces consumers to be more discerning with their money this holiday season.

In recent years, food prices have risen dramatically, initially due to the pandemic and further influenced by the war in Ukraine. Last extreme weather events and even one large US port strike companies have given Room to increase prices.

However, food prices have developed somewhat positively stabilized since August, with an annual increase of just under 0.9%according to the Bureau of Labor. This rate is similar to the typical increase in 2019, suggesting that the sharp price increases of recent years are easing.

By offering discounted holiday meals, Aldi and Walmart could significantly increase customer loyalty and sales just before Christmas.

In fact, Aldi announced investment plans at the beginning of the year over $9 billion to open 800 new U.S. stores and said it would hire more 13,000 new branch and warehouse employeesand positions itself for further growth. For comparison: Aldi operates more than 2,400 locations throughout the United States, during Walmart operates more than 4,600 stores in the United States.