🍗 Summit Staples Snapshot: Week 6: Proteins & Pantry (October 2025)

Chicken and beef prices finally dip in Fort Wayne while pantry items stay level. See which store leads the lowest basket and how Indiana’s grocery trend compares nationwide.

🍗 Summit Staples Snapshot: Week 6: Proteins & Pantry (October 2025)

Part of the Summit Secret Scoops Series. Tracking Fort Wayne’s Real Grocery Prices

📊 This Week’s Prices

Item	Kroger	Meijer	Walmart	Aldi
Chicken Breast (1 lb)	$2.69 —	$2.59 —	$2.57 ✅	$1.99 ✅
Ground Beef (1 lb, 80/20)	$4.99 ✅	$4.99 ✅	$6.93 🔺	$6.99 —
Pasta (1 lb)	$1.49 🔺	$1.49 🔺	$0.98 —	$2.09 🔺
Rice (1 lb)	$1.39 —	$0.99 —	$0.92 —	$2.09 🔺
Canned Green Beans (14.5 oz)	$0.89 —	$0.79 —	$0.50 —	$0.50 —

✅ = Price Down 🔺 = Price Up — = No Change

💵 Total Basket Comparison

Store	Current Total (Oct)	Last Month (Sep)	Change
Kroger	$11.45	$12.85	✅ – $1.40 (↓ 10.9 %)
Meijer	$10.85	$11.55	✅ – $0.70 (↓ 6.1 %)
Walmart	$11.90	$11.86	🔺 + $0.04 (↑ 0.3 %)
Aldi	$13.66	— (new category)	—

📊 Kroger and Meijer posted the largest drops this month, thanks to cheaper beef and steady chicken prices.
Walmart remained flat, while Aldi continued to swing due to its premium sourcing for pasta and rice.

🧠 What We’re Seeing in Fort Wayne

Protein prices softened across most chains. A welcome break after summer increases.
Pantry goods (especially pasta) nudged up slightly at every store, except Walmart.
Aldi’s pantry section shows the largest fluctuations as bulk and import items reprice.

🌽 How We Compare to Indiana and Nationwide

Across Indiana, protein prices have begun to ease after a 6-month climb, mirroring national trends reported by the USDA.

Chicken and beef are down roughly 2–3 % statewide.
Pasta and grains saw minor upticks (1 % range) due to wheat market adjustments.
Indiana’s food-at-home inflation is still around 3 %, but Fort Wayne’s numbers suggest a slightly faster stabilization than the state average.

In short, Fort Wayne families are finally catching a small break on meat and pantry costs.

🔮 What’s Next

Week 7 shifts to produce and fresh goods (think bananas, apples, potatoes, lettuce, and carrots). That update will let us see how fall harvest pricing and transport costs impact everyday produce locally.

Next month, the 20-item basket will show Fort Wayne’s first true month-to-month change chart; the core of your Summit Staples Index Number.

📌 Disclaimer

Prices recorded Saturday, October 22, 2025 @ 12:45 PM from:
Walmart (46818) | Meijer (46818) | Kroger (46825) | Aldi (46818)

Prices may vary by location, time, or availability. Summit Staples tracks local trends, not guaranteed checkout totals.

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you seen meat prices drop or pasta creep up at your store?
Post your receipts, deals, or price tags inside our Summit Secret Scoops Facebook Group, your find might show up in next week’s chart!