Page 3 | Is it time something was done about shrinkflation?

Frugalityfromnowon · 2025-01-02T17:22:18+00:00

Please tell me I'm not alone in finding this is now getting really out of hand?

NoSuitableSchool · 02/01/2025 18:33

Our solution is Costco but then we have to find space for XXXXXL packs. It's shocking going from the Co op to Costco and seeing the better prices for breakfast cereals and in huge boxes.

thenightsky · 02/01/2025 18:31

It annoys me more when you buy cooking ingredients for recipes that are based on pack sizes. I do a Xmas crumble using 300g of cranberries (Waitrose recipe) because cranberries always and forever came in 300g boxes. This last year they've become 250g, so recipe is unbalanced and not right.

I do a gratin with Jarlesberg cheese 200g which has always been a full tesco pack. Now they've reduced the pack to 190g.

Butter has forever been 250g a pack. Now they are sneaking in 200g packs, but same price (Lurpak is one).

soupfiend · 02/01/2025 18:31

DreamW3aver · 02/01/2025 18:24

Are you buying branded ones? The supermarket own brands ones don't cost anywhere near that

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A quick google shows 10 in Sainsburys for 2.35, Birds Eye, then Tesco own, for 12, 1.59

soupfiend · 02/01/2025 18:29

PeppyGreenFinch · 02/01/2025 18:09

What’s happened to olive oil?

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11 quid a litre

Used to be about 5, but to be fair thats not really shrinkflation, its gone up in Europe too although of course much cheaper than here

Mycatmyworld · 02/01/2025 18:28

April will be another killer, wage increase etc etc, it will erode everything as its always passed on to the end of the chain & that is the bottom line

Bryonyberries · 02/01/2025 18:28

I'd pay a bit more for a proper 80's sized chocolate bar - there could well be a market for those who want a nostalgia hit! Something that isn't gone in two bites and has original ingredients rather than all the palm oil

DreamW3aver · 02/01/2025 18:24

BashfulClam · 02/01/2025 17:35

Potato waffles , used to get 12 for £1 then the box reduced to 10 but the price was still £1 now it’s 10 for £2.35! Yes they are rubbish but one example I noticed.

Are you buying branded ones? The supermarket own brands ones don't cost anywhere near that

Microgal · 02/01/2025 18:20

BashfulClam · 02/01/2025 17:35

Potato waffles , used to get 12 for £1 then the box reduced to 10 but the price was still £1 now it’s 10 for £2.35! Yes they are rubbish but one example I noticed.

I was always under the impression that England is cheaper than Ireland. I pay €1.39 for 12 waffles.

thehousewiththesagegreensofa · 02/01/2025 18:20

I would rather things were the same size as they have been for years. I got used to using those size packs and it's annoying having to adapt to different quantities.

Ablondiebutagoody · 02/01/2025 18:18

You are welcome to not buy the stuff. Or would you prefer a new government department to specify the required dimensions of a Findus Crispy Pancake?

DreamW3aver · 02/01/2025 18:16

soupfiend · 02/01/2025 17:24

Give an example?

If its food stuffs our portion sizes need to shrink, although the price therefore needs to shrink along with it of course

Shrinkflation isn't connected to protion control, not being able to afford to buy the same amount of food might in extreme lead to you eating less but that's not the reason it happens

No one can do anything about it, other than. I suppose switching brand to one that put a up prices instead

anothermnuser123 · 02/01/2025 18:11

hagchic · 02/01/2025 17:32

Shrinkflation = keep the product the same (mostly) price, reduce the amount (or amount of expensive ingredient in it - e.g olive oil/butter)

Alternative = keep the product the same size/quality - price will have to go up

I would honestly prefer the prices to go up because you just have to buy sooner and the smaller packs of things mean more packaging, with things like toilet roll, olive oil etc

Movingbutstandingstill · 02/01/2025 18:11

Dairylee dunkers was 4 to a pack and now it’s three….they can’t get much smaller for most things. There has to be a point they just have to charge more?

OrlandoFurious · 02/01/2025 18:09

In France they've introduced a law requiring manufacturers to flag up the smaller pack size so that customers know they are getting less- seems sensible. But ultimately sizes will come down or prices will go up or a bit of both- we are a poorer country than we were.

EuclidianGeometryFan · 02/01/2025 18:09

PickAChew · 02/01/2025 18:05

If the 4.2kg box of laundry detergent shrinks to 3.8kg for the same price, it doesn't last as long so you end up paying more, anyhow.

If a 750g bag of frozen peas shrinks to 650g for the same price, they get eaten sooner and you end up paying more.

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Exactly. Better to keep the 4.2kg laundry detergent and 750g peas, put up the price accordingly, but also make available a 2.0kg detergent and 350g peas at appropriate prices.

PeppyGreenFinch · 02/01/2025 18:09

chickenwings2 · 02/01/2025 17:24

I'm annoyed about it too but what can we do? Jealous of everyone who stock piled olive oil

What’s happened to olive oil?

bloodredfeaturewall · 02/01/2025 18:07

many things cost more to produce and therefore have to be more ecpensive to buy.
last summer was awful around europe for growing produce for starters - less availability = higher prices

EmotionalCarrot · 02/01/2025 18:07

What do you want to do??

Jabbabong · 02/01/2025 18:06

soupfiend · 02/01/2025 17:24

Give an example?

If its food stuffs our portion sizes need to shrink, although the price therefore needs to shrink along with it of course

I agree with this. Many of the nation can do with having smaller portion sizes.

PickAChew · 02/01/2025 18:05

EuclidianGeometryFan · 02/01/2025 17:56

I suppose the real question is would you rather have shrinking sizes or higher prices?
Worst possible scenario is cheaper ingredients, so the taste and quality is worse.

I would rather have higher prices, same sizes, but perhaps the introduction of new "half-sized" options at a lower price.

If the 4.2kg box of laundry detergent shrinks to 3.8kg for the same price, it doesn't last as long so you end up paying more, anyhow.

If a 750g bag of frozen peas shrinks to 650g for the same price, they get eaten sooner and you end up paying more.

soupfiend · 02/01/2025 18:02

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 02/01/2025 18:00

I would like there to be stricter rules about making the quantity information on the packet visible.
I think people should be allowed to sell things in whatever quantity they like but as companies shrink products they have also been making it harder to find the size information on the packet, clearly deliberately. It’s often absolutely tiny and really hard to locate.

Supermarkets are sneaky too because while most things are counted per 100g or 1kg, sometimes they do things per 'unit'. So you can look at a pack of apples and its costed per 100g, then the next pack of apples along its costed per unit and theres 6 in the pack, so xp per apple, same with potatoes or lemons or whatnot

I cant compare those prices to work out whats better value

They do it with other products too but I cant think of others off the top of my head.

Dotto · 02/01/2025 18:01

If you are going hungry the only thing you can do as an individual is ensure you're claiming all assistance you're entitled to, or earn more.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 02/01/2025 18:00

I would like there to be stricter rules about making the quantity information on the packet visible.
I think people should be allowed to sell things in whatever quantity they like but as companies shrink products they have also been making it harder to find the size information on the packet, clearly deliberately. It’s often absolutely tiny and really hard to locate.

MiffyBuns · 02/01/2025 17:58

But the prices are higher?

Things that were 5 for £1 are now £1.25 for 4.

EuclidianGeometryFan · 02/01/2025 17:56

I suppose the real question is would you rather have shrinking sizes or higher prices?
Worst possible scenario is cheaper ingredients, so the taste and quality is worse.

I would rather have higher prices, same sizes, but perhaps the introduction of new "half-sized" options at a lower price.