The holidays may still feel a few months away, but for companies planning employee gifts, now is the time to start thinking ahead.

Whether you're planning Thanksgiving turkeys, holiday hams, or other food gifts for your employees, starting early gives your team more flexibility with product selection, quantities, delivery dates, and distribution.

At Loewy Foods, we've specialized in corporate holiday gifting for more than 40 years. Here's our simple timeline to help your company plan a smooth and successful holiday gifting program.

August: Start Planning

August is the perfect time to start the conversation with our Loewy Foods team and yours.

Begin by determining:

• How many employees will receive a gift?

• What is your approximate budget per employee?

• Are you gifting for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or both?

• Will gifts go to one location or multiple locations?

• Will employees pick up their gifts or receive them another way?

This is also the time to consider what type of gift best fits your company. Traditional Thanksgiving turkeys remain a popular choice, while hams and specialty food gifts can be great options for Christmas or year-end appreciation.

You don't need every detail finalized yet. The goal is simply to get the process started.

September: Choose Your Gifts and Place Your Order

By September, you should have a good idea of what you'd like to give and approximately how many gifts you'll need. Our team can assist with your choices if you have any questions.

As holiday food gifts are seasonal, it's important not to wait until the last minute.

Our team recommends placing holiday orders by the end of summer for the most competitive selection.

At this stage, you'll want to:

• Confirm your products

• Confirm your approximate quantity

• Identify delivery locations

• Begin discussing your preferred delivery date

If your employee count isn't final, don't worry. Quantities can be adjusted closer to delivery based on availability.

October: Finalize the Details

October is the time to turn your gifting plan into a distribution plan.

For smaller companies, this may be as simple as arranging a delivery and setting aside time for employees to pick up their gifts. Larger companies may need to coordinate multiple locations, employee shifts, storage, and distribution schedules.

Before November arrives, make sure you know:

• Confirm delivery locations

• Who will be responsible for receiving it and who can help unload

• When employees will receive them

• How employees will be notified

• Whether multiple locations or shifts need to be accommodated

Loewy Foods coordinates deliveries to businesses, warehouses, and event sites nationwide, making it easier for companies with employees in multiple locations to manage their holiday gifting programs.

November: Distribute Your Thanksgiving Gifts

By November, your goal should be simple: enjoy the holiday rather than scramble to organize it.

Loewy Foods works with companies to coordinate delivery dates and typically provides a 4–5 hour delivery window. Products arrive frozen on refrigerated trucks and are generally delivered palletized and shrink-wrapped.

For the smoothest distribution, have a small team available to receive the shipment, confirm the quantity, and coordinate employee pickup.

A little planning ahead of time can make distribution day simple and enjoyable for everyone.

December: Continue the Celebration

For companies that celebrate Christmas or prefer year-end employee appreciation, December is another opportunity to recognize your team.

Loewy offers gift turkeys, hams, and specialty food gifts that can be used for employee appreciation, client gifts, company celebrations, and community programs.

And just like Thanksgiving, the best December gifting programs are planned well before December arrives.

Why Order Holiday Gifts Early?

Starting early isn't just about being organized. It gives your company:

Better selection. Seasonal products can become limited and more expensive as the holidays approach.

Easier logistics. Companies with multiple locations have more moving pieces to coordinate.

Less stress. Getting your gifting program organized before the holiday rush means one less project for your HR and operations teams to manage.

A better employee experience. A thoughtful gift deserves a thoughtful delivery experience.

Your 2026 Holiday Gifting Timeline

August: Determine your budget, employee count, and gifting goals with our team.

September: Select your gifts and place your order with our team.

October: Finalize quantities, locations, delivery dates, and distribution plans.

November: Receive and distribute Thanksgiving gifts.

December: Celebrate your employees with holiday or year-end gifts.

Ready to Start Planning?

A great employee holiday gift shouldn't create a logistical headache for the people organizing it.

Loewy Foods has been helping companies make the holidays special for more than 40 years, with corporate gifting programs designed for organizations of all sizes and nationwide delivery capabilities.

If you're planning your company's 2026 employee holiday gifts, now is the time to start the conversation.

Request a Quote on our website or contact the Loewy Foods team at 847-714-0202 to begin planning.

The holidays may be months away—but your best holiday gifting plan starts now.