Some stores are stocking up on smaller turkeys or cuts that don't include the whole bird because people may be getting together in smaller groups for the holidays.

The traditional fat Thanksgiving turkey could become another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic this year.

Retail giant Walmart is stocking more turkey breasts as people plan to get together in smaller groups. Shoppers also are expected to hit the stores earlier in November for their holiday dinners to avoid crowds at the grocery store.

“This year has brought rapid and constant change in every facet of our daily lives, and we know Thanksgiving celebrations will be no exception,” Jacqui Lyons, a divisional merchandise manager at Walmart wrote online. “The sprint to Thanksgiving is likely going to be spread over a greater number of days, and the largest turkey in the freezer is less likely to be the star.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists going to large indoor gatherings with other households as a higher risk activity. Having a small dinner outside with family and friends from the community is considered to be a moderate risk and a small dinner with people who live in the same household is lower risk. Traveling also increases the chance of catching and spreading coronavirus, the CDC warns.

A survey from turkey producer Butterball found nearly 90% of consumers plan to have a Thanksgiving meal but also reported 30% said they are only hosting immediate family this year.

Still, Butterball said 75% of hosts planned to serve the same-size or larger turkey than last year.

Walmart, however, anticipates the smaller groups will mean a higher preference for smaller turkeys and cuts that don’t include the whole bird.

The retailer, which still plans to have plenty of whole turkeys, has increased its offerings of bone-in and boneless turkey breasts by 20% to 30% in stores across the nation, Lyons wrote.

Lyons added Walmart has more hams on hand after sales continued to peak following Easter into summer.

“We also learned a lot from our customers this past Easter,” Lyons wrote. “To avoid crowds, shoppers stocked up earlier than ever. That’s going to continue this holiday season. It’s no longer about catering to a single peak the weekend before Thanksgiving.”