She holds out a plump, golden-brown turkey, a sample of the holiday meals offered through the grocery store's CarryOut Cuisine. No need to feel guilty. Food Town and Price Chopper began selling them more than a decade ago. In recent years, however, increasing numbers of consumers have turned to takeout for their family holiday meals. The number of supermarkets and fast-food outlets offering such meals increases annually, but there's still plenty of business to go around.
Most retailers offer the foods precooked but refrigerated or frozen.
Customers just heat and eat. Over the past five years, business for complete, fully prepared holiday meals has really grown. Although best known for its chicken, Boston Market bows to tradition and offers holiday meals of turkey and ham. This year for the first time all 691 stores will offer catering services, both pick-up and delivery. For many people, holiday takeout has more appeal than a restaurant meal.