Stop & Shop released survey results revealing that 55 percent of Americans prefer canned cranberry sauce with ridges at Thanksgiving, compared to 31 percent who favor homemade versions.
The Quincy, Massachusetts-based retailer surveyed adults ages 18 and older across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey to gauge cranberry sauce preferences.
The survey found 63 percent of respondents consider cranberry sauce a must-have for Thanksgiving meals, while 28 percent call it nice but not essential. Just 10 percent said it shouldn’t be served.
Among consumers who serve canned cranberry sauce, 59 percent cut it along the can lines, 15 percent present it whole without cutting and 10 percent mash or mix it.
Taste (40 percent) emerged as the main factor influencing cranberry sauce preference, followed by nostalgia and family tradition (33 percent), texture (12 percent) and convenience (4 percent).
Leftovers and other preferences
The survey revealed 49 percent of respondents said cranberry sauce should always appear on leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches, while 31 percent said sometimes and 20 percent said never.
A majority, 84 percent, said they enjoy Thanksgiving dinner itself more than leftovers the next day, compared to 16 percent who prefer leftovers.
Stuffing, at 20 percent, ranked as the Thanksgiving dish people indicated they could most live without.
Americans consume about five million gallons of cranberry sauce during Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season, whether canned or fresh, jellied or whole berry.
Stop & Shop stocks private and national brand varieties of jellied and whole canned cranberry sauce alongside fresh cranberries in produce sections. The retailer is offering a Thanksgiving feast (that includes canned cranberry sauce) for a family of 10 for less than $40 this holiday season.
An Ahold Delhaize USA company, Stop & Shop operates more than 350 stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey, employing nearly 50,000 associates.
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