You've seen the signs. They start popping up around mid-March for Easter or right after Halloween for the winter holidays. Large, colorful banners draped over the frozen food cases, promising a free ham at ShopRite. It sounds like a gimmick, or maybe one of those "too good to be true" deals where you end up spending way more than you planned just to save ten bucks. Honestly, though? It’s one of the few grocery store loyalty perks that actually lives up to the hype, provided you know how the Price Plus club card math works.
If you’ve ever stood in the checkout line watching the person ahead of you walk away with a massive Smithfield ham for $0.00, you know the feeling. It’s a mix of envy and confusion. How did they do it? Did they spend a fortune? Is there a secret code?
Actually, it’s just a volume game. ShopRite, which is a co-operative of various family-owned supermarkets across the Northeast, uses this promotion to keep people from wandering off to competitors like Stop & Shop or Wegmans during the high-spend holiday weeks. They want your entire grocery bill for the month. In exchange, they give you the centerpiece of your dinner table.
The Spend Requirement: Breaking Down the Math
The most important thing to realize is that you can't just walk in on a Tuesday and grab a ham. You have to earn it. Usually, ShopRite sets a "qualifying spend" amount. Historically, this has hovered around $400, though it can vary slightly depending on your specific region or the year.
Wait. Don't panic. You don't have to spend $400 in a single trip.
That is the biggest misconception about the free ham at ShopRite program. The tracking happens automatically through your Price Plus card over a period of several weeks. If the promotion runs from October 20th through Thanksgiving Eve, every dollar you spend on milk, cereal, detergent, and even those overpriced rotisserie chickens counts toward your total. Your receipt will usually have a little line at the bottom telling you exactly how much more you need to spend to "unlock" your reward.
Once you hit that magic number, the register basically flags your account. The next time you grab a qualifying ham and scan your card, the price drops to zero. It’s remarkably seamless once you’ve done the legwork.
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What Kind of Ham Can You Actually Get?
Not all hams are created equal. ShopRite is pretty specific about what qualifies for the freebie. Usually, it’s a ShopRite All Natural Smoked Ham (butt or shank portion) or a Cook's Shank or Butt Half Ham. If you aren’t a "ham person," they generally offer alternatives because they know not everyone wants a ten-pound slab of pork.
Common alternatives often include:
- A frozen Turkey (usually ShopRite brand, up to a certain weight)
- A Kosher Frozen Turkey (Empire brand)
- Tofurky for the vegetarians
- A Grade A Frozen Duck
- A Stouffer’s Party Size Lasagna (for those who want zero cooking stress)
There’s a nuance here that catches people off guard. If you want a "premium" ham—like a John F. Martin or a specific spiral-sliced brand—ShopRite usually offers a credit instead. For instance, if the base free ham is worth $1.49 a pound, they might give you $1.49 per pound off the price of the fancy brand. You still save a ton of money, but the screen won't show a total of zero. You'll pay the difference.
Strategy for the High-Volume Shopper
If you have a large family, hitting the $400 mark is a breeze. You’ll probably hit it in two weeks without even trying. But if you're a single person or a couple, $400 in groceries over six weeks feels like a lot of bread and eggs.
Here is how the experts do it.
Buy your non-perishables during the promo window. If you know you’re going to need paper towels, laundry soap, or canned goods for the next three months, buy them now. This pads your total toward the free ham at ShopRite without forcing you to buy food that will spoil. Also, gift cards. While terms and conditions sometimes vary by store location (since ShopRites are independently owned), many people find that buying gift cards for other retailers (like Amazon or Netflix) at the ShopRite service desk counts toward their total. It’s worth checking the fine print on the circular in your specific zip code.
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Why Does ShopRite Do This?
It's a loss leader. Pure and simple. Retail experts like those at the Cornell Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management have long studied how supermarkets use "anchor products" to drive foot traffic. A ham costs the store money, but if you're buying the pineapples, the potatoes, the green beans, the dinner rolls, and the sparkling cider there too, they win.
They also know that once you’ve spent $200 toward your goal, you are psychologically "locked in." You aren't going to go to a different store to buy your milk because you don't want to "waste" the progress you’ve made toward your free holiday meal. It’s brilliant loyalty engineering.
Pitfalls to Avoid
There is nothing worse than getting to the front of the line with a cart full of groceries and a heavy ham, only to find out you're $3 short. Check your receipt every single time.
The tracking is precise. If you return an item, that amount is deducted from your holiday total. If you used a bunch of digital coupons, the amount that counts toward the ham is the final price you paid after those discounts, not the original shelf price. This is where most people get tripped up. They see a $100 subtotal, apply $20 in coupons, and assume they are $100 closer to their ham. In reality, they are only $80 closer.
Also, watch the dates. The "earning period" usually ends a few days before the actual holiday. If you wait until the morning of Easter Sunday to try and hit your spend limit, you might find that the promotion has already switched over to the "redemption only" phase.
The Ethics of the Free Ham
Kinda interesting—many ShopRite shoppers who don't actually eat ham still participate in the program. Why? Because it’s an incredibly easy way to donate to local food banks.
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During the holiday season, food pantries are desperate for protein. If you’ve earned your free ham at ShopRite but your family is doing a prime rib or a turkey instead, you can still "buy" the free ham and immediately drop it in a donation bin. Most ShopRites actually have a collection point right near the exit during the holidays. You get the satisfaction of the "win" at the register, and a family in need gets a high-quality meal.
Comparing ShopRite to Other Chains
Does anyone else do this? Occasionally, Acme or Stop & Shop will run a similar "earn a turkey" promo, but ShopRite has made it a core part of their brand identity in the Northeast. While stores like Aldi or Lidl offer lower prices year-round, they rarely have these high-reward loyalty "quests."
For the average consumer, it comes down to a choice: do you want the lowest price on every single item, or do you want the big "payoff" at the end of the month? If you’re already shopping at ShopRite because of their specific brands or store locations, the free ham is essentially a 2-3% cash-back reward on your groceries, paid out in pork.
Actionable Steps to Secure Your Ham
- Register Early: Ensure your Price Plus card is active and your phone number is linked. If you lose your card, the cashier can look you up, but the points only accrue if the card is scanned before the transaction is finalized.
- Read the Circular: Look at the front page of the weekly ad. It will explicitly state the "Earn" dates and the "Redeem" dates. Mark them on your calendar.
- Audit Your Receipts: Look at the bottom of your grocery slip. There is a dedicated section for "Holiday Points" or "Holiday Spend." If it’s not there, ask the customer service desk immediately.
- Go Early for Redemption: The best hams (and the specific weights you might want) go fast. If you wait until the night before the holiday, you might be left with a 14-pound monster or a tiny 4-pound scrap.
- Choose Your Alternative: If you don't want ham, know your options. The frozen lasagna or the Tofurky are usually tucked away in different aisles, so you’ll need to track them down before hitting the checkout.
The free ham at ShopRite isn't a myth, and it isn't a scam. It’s just a reward for being a consistent customer. Treat it like a game, track your spending, and you’ll find that holiday dinner tastes a little bit better when the main course didn't cost you a dime.
Next Steps for Your Holiday Planning
Check your current Price Plus account balance online or via the ShopRite app to see if the current promotion has already begun in your region. Then, start your shopping list with high-value, non-perishable items to hit your spend goal before the holiday rush begins.