The Great 'Shrinking Food' Hunt

milbomilbo

BTW, are we sure the reductions aren't due to new food labelling? I've noticed a lot of cereal type bars all seem to hover around the 100 calorie mark. If I was a manufacturer with an existing product which was 120 calories I might be forced to reduce the size in order to compete - especially if my target market were health conscious consumers. Of course whether or not I should reduce the price might be a different decision.........

jubblinsm

Last year I noticed Tesco Sweet Chilli Chicken Skewers (BBQ range) used to be 20 for £ 2.00 in 2008 but last year same price but for average of 16!! That was a drop of 20% product and increased margin for them. Was so incensed I pointed it out to the Cashier who hadn't noticed & she buys them too!!

Can't believe they think we don't notice these things, trouble is we all love them in my house so I can't boycott them, oh well guess its only for the summer season..........

shoushou

I always buy Avacados from tesco and 4 small ones were £1... suddely they went up to £1.09 and yesterday I was shocked to see 3 for £1.20!:eek:

pennypinchUK

I read recently that American Airlines saved $40,000 a year by removing 1 olive from their salads in First Class. On that basis, think how much extra high volume food companies are making by reducing their tins/bottles/packets, etc. by even 5% !

BigBadMerlin

thsths wrote: »

Yes, it may be healthier. But as far as I can tell nearly all ready made meals are getting smaller, so it could leave you hungry if you like the bigger potions.

Of the basic items, Tropicana orange juice is the worst. 1.75l has become 1.5l "Value Size" at the same price, and the new 2l "Family Size" is ridiculously expensive. (Didn't they used to sell 2l as the big size for a reasonable price a few years ago?)

Beer bottles are getting smaller, or at least the number of sizes has increased: 275ml, 300ml, 330ml, 500ml, 568ml, 750ml, and probably some more just for good measure.

And non food items are just as bad: many tissues are sold 9 in a pack now, diaper packs are a few diapers smaller than last year (doesn't matter if it is economy, mega, jumbo, or whatever pack), and some of the cheap printing paper is getting thinner (70g/m^2 instead of 80).

There are still bargains out there, but it is very difficult indeed to spot them in between all the fake "sale" signs.

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Green King have now introduced 355ml bottles of their beer, which is another unusual size, although it does equel 12.5foz or 5/8 of a pint, I can not imagine anyone saying I will have another 5/8 please!

Dave_Z

pennypinchUK wrote: »

I read recently that American Airlines saved $40,000 a year by removing 1 olive from their salads in First Class. On that basis, think how much extra high volume food companies are making by reducing their tins/bottles/packets, etc. by even 5% !

That was quite a while back and i believe it was actually around $1m that they saved. Very cunning.

I don't have any problems with product sizes reducing, but it's a joke to charge the same. I've always tended to look at price per L/kg/etc anyway. I just don't buy half those things anymore. If practical, i try and stock up on bulk packs/sizes from Costco. I already have enough kitchen roll, bin bags, deodourant, handwash, sandwich bags and toilet roll to see me through 2010.

kryssykk

Has anyone noticed how the frozen Petit Pois peas large bag has shrunk from 1.5kg to 1.2kg for the same price, Also large 3ply tissues of all brands used to be 100 per box and over a fairly long time approx 3 years they have shrunk to an average of 50/55 per box.Things have been shrinking for longer you think
One more thing I have noticed is that if you want real meat/fish ie not chopped and shaped you get less for your money with the real Macoy.

Wobbledoos

morrisons lean minced beef (3 for a tenner) is now 770g instead of 800g...

moontree

On a related note, I've noticed that Tesco's own brands are often in the same size packaging as the branded equivalent, but contain less product. The own-brand product is cheaper so you think you're getting a better deal, but when you look at the price per gram (or whatever), often the own brands are more expensive. I've spotted this with Colgate toothpaste and Catsan cat litter and their Tesco's own equivalents, among others. Sneaky...

CommitedToChange

Cadburys creme egg proof!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FiA57ir5QM

Should work!

So very very cheeky - but nice to see proof we were right.