With the summer solstice coming up later this month, grocers are ready for consumers to fire up their grills. 

While the November and December holidays traditionally receive peak attention in the grocery industry in competing for shoppers’ meal dollars, the abundance of recent retailer announcements about new seasonal deals and merchandise indicates that this summer is gearing up to be a battleground for consumers’ grocery spending. 

From ice cream trucks to grilling sweepstakes, here’s a look at some of the ways grocers are looking to stand out.

Savings galore

Meijer and Shipt have teamed up for a sweepstakes that started May 20 and ends June 20. Customers who order from the Meijer storefront on Shipt are automatically entered to win the Ultimate Summer Grilling Sweepstakes, which includes a year’s worth of groceries plus a hammock, an outdoor griddle and grilling tools. 

In addition to the sweepstakes, Shipt kicked off a multi-week savings event on Memorial Day that runs through July 6, offering discounts on items like outdoor grilling products, barbecue meat and buns, patio and gardening products, and outdoor games.

Several grocers and retailers have announced they are slashing grocery prices for the summer. Aldi said it’s cutting prices on over 250 items, such as organic avocado oil, sausages, dried apricots, chicken breast and frozen French fries, through Labor Day, resulting in $100 million in savings for consumers.

Target is cutting prices on thousands of items this summer with a focus on food and essential items.

Seasonal items

Ice cream truck, anyone? Publix has its ice cream truck on a tour throughout the Southeast in June and July, with stops including Nashville, Tennessee; Greenville, South Carolina; Atlanta; and seven cities in Florida. The truck will have Publix’s premium ice creams and limited-edition flavors. 

Earlier this week, Publix announced the eight seasonal ice cream flavors, which include cold brew cookies and crème, strawberry, caramel turtle cheesecake and coffee almond fudge. Publix noted that its associates voted for the return of the chocolate cookie quarry flavor for this season.

Other newly debuted seasonal products by Publix include store brand drinks, limited-edition flavors of its kettle-cooked potato chips, the watermelon berry summer salad made daily in the produce department and its deli capellini pasta salad. The grocery chain also re-introduced Tutto Pugliese bread to its customizable Pub Sub options, according to Food and Wine.

In a similar vein, Target has new arrivals for its private brands portfolio as it aims to be a “big snacking and food destination” this summer, Target Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington said on an earnings call last month. Along with adding more than 125 new items to its Favorite Day and Good & Gather brands, the retailer is also launching exclusive flavors from “hot national brands” like Bubly Sparkling Water and Poppi, she said.

Meanwhile, Hannaford has rolled out fresh, fully-prepared lobster rolls, marking the first time in recent history that it has made that “seasonal favorite synonymous with its New England heritage” available in its grab-and-go selection. The fresh lobster roll is available at all Hannaford stores for $9.99 through Labor Day.

Now through July 12, Walmart is selling online a summer cookout basket with 18 grilling essentials such as hot dogs, ketchup and chocolate chip cookies for under $50. The retailer said the basket can feed eight people and is positioning the baskets as a “summer cookout for about $6 per person.”