New York: As Thanksgiving approaches in the United States, major retailers are highlighting “more affordable” holiday meal kits, yet closer scrutiny reveals a subtle shift in what consumers are actually getting. Walmart, Target, and Aldi have all advertised lower-priced Thanksgiving spreads this year, but these deals come with fewer items or more private-label products, reflecting strategic adjustments rather than straightforward discounts.

Walmart’s Thanksgiving kit, for example, now costs under $40 and is designed to feed 10 people down from last year’s $56 kit for eight. While the headline price is lower, the contents have been altered: the meal features 22 items instead of 29, with nine of them drawn from Walmart’s own “Great Value” brand. Some staples, such as onions, celery, and b

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