Popular groceries are being downsized by manufacturers in an attempt to save money, according to a watchdog. Which? has identified a trend known as "skimpflation," where companies reduce the amount of costly ingredients in their products without lowering the prices. For example, Tesco's Finest sausages have seen a reduction in pork content from 97% to 90%, and Yeo Valley Spreadable Butter now contains 50% butter, down from 54%. Morrisons' guacamole has also reduced the amount of avocado from 80% to 77%. In addition to downsizing, there are instances of "shrinkflation," where products are made smaller, such as Bisto Best Chicken Gravy Granules and Cadbury's Brunch Chocolate Chip Bars.
Reduced Quality, Same Price
Which? Retail editor Ele Clark explained that while some popular products are subtly decreasing in size or quality, their prices remain the same. This means that shoppers are essentially paying more for less. Clark called on supermarkets and manufacturers to be more transparent about these changes and ensure that unit pricing is clearly displayed and consistent. The British Retail Consortium's Andrew Opie noted that nearly all instances of shrinkflation occur with branded products, not own label items. This indicates that the decisions are made by manufacturers and not retailers.
Manufacturer's Response
Tesco responded to the findings by stating that changes to products are often made to improve taste or health benefits. Yeo Valley, on the other hand, claimed to have informed customers via email before making any changes. The company emphasized that the cost of producing high-quality organic food has never been higher.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/money/lucky-omen-leads-to-166666-jackpot-win-for-man-in-peoples-postcode-lottery/
