If you’re curious about holiday turkey prices 2015, here’s the full story. Tony’s Market secured a full turkey supply that year, but national turkey prices still spiked. Here’s why—and how it impacted shoppers.
Why Turkey Prices Jumped in 2015
In early 2015, the U.S. and Midwest faced a severe avian flu outbreak—specifically H5N2—which led to the destruction of over 43 million birds across 15 states (source). Wisconsin alone reported losses that slowed egg and turkey production for “a couple years” AP News.
By November, USDA data showed wholesale turkey prices for Eastern-market whole hens at $1.31–1.37/lb—15–20% higher than in 2014 (The Poultry Site). Retail shoppers saw similar increases: some areas reported rises between 17–20%, with food news outlets warning that turkey prices would climb through the holiday season (KJZZ).
While price increases at the holidays aren’t uncommon, the 2015 spike was unusual. It was driven almost entirely by disease-related supply loss, not inflation or seasonal demand. For many grocers, this meant working overtime to secure enough inventory and communicate clearly with customers ahead of the rush.
Tony’s Took Action—Here’s What We Did
At Tony’s Market, our Meat & Seafood Buyer, Stefan Kosmicki, noted that holiday turkey prices 2015 rose more than the typical 5% annual increase—hitting 15–20%. Still, our team kept our purchasing plans steady.
“We saw a possible 15–20% price increase industry-wide,” Stefan confirmed, “but we locked in supply early and passed our best pricing to customers.”
No Pre-Order Needed in 2015—and You Still Got Your Bird
Because Tony’s had a solid turkey reservation in place—even amid the bird flu scare—you didn’t need to pre-order. We maintained full stock through November and December, giving our customers peace of mind during a turbulent market year.
Even during uncertain supply years, Tony’s does the planning early so you can count on having high-quality holiday meats on the table. Whether you’re shopping for future holidays or looking back at holiday turkey prices 2015, we’ve got your back.
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