It's been said before. Today's consumers are cooking-challenged. That fact of modern life has turned into a business bonanza for food stores and eateries that are willing and more than able to supply meals for special events and holidays such as the upcoming Thanksgiving feast.
"So much for Grandma's house," Robert Butterworth, a clinical psychologist, told USA Today. "I'm for anything that de-stresses the holiday."
According to Harry Balzer at NPD Group, five percent of consumers bought pre-made Thanksgiving Day meals last year. "Everyone wants to know: How do I get out of this and still make it seem homemade?"
This year, NPD projects six percent will look outside for their Thanksgiving Day meal preparation.
Boston Market began an online ordering program last year and saw sales jump 30 percent during Thanksgiving week. This year, the company is offering a 10 percent discount for online orders. A meal for 12 complete with a whole turkey, spinach artichoke dip with crackers, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry walnut relish, cornbread and two pies costs $68.94.
A traditional turkey dinner for 10 from Wegmans including a 12 - 14 pound turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, herb stuffing, buttered corn with red peppers, fresh cranberry relish and dinner rolls costs $70 (Woodbridge, NJ store).
Others, such as Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder, Colo., offer a meal for four with a ready-to-roast organic turkey, tomato jelly and pumpkin cheesecake with macadamia nut crust for $178.
Discussion Questions: What do you see as the primary factors behind consumers buying holiday meals prepared for them? Where do you see this trend heading and what will that mean for retailers looking to carve out (sorry) a larger portion of this business?