New Food TREND Is Linked to Inflation
(DailyVantage.com) – Skyrocketing inflation has impacted nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives. We’re paying higher prices across the board, including at the gas pump, in the grocery store, and for everyday commodities. As of the end of June, the inflation rate in the US was sitting at 9.1%, the highest it’s been in over 40 years. Commercial food companies aren’t unaffected, but they’re employing certain practices to avoid taking a hit — and consumers may not even be aware of them.
Check That Packaging
If you’ve shopped recently and noticed you’re running out of items faster, it’s not just you. Manufacturers are reluctant to raise prices, but they still manage to cut corners in other ways, like reducing package sizes. It’s not just the smaller boxes and containers; the content amounts within have shrunk, too. For example, Cottonelle has downsized its Ultra Clean Care toilet paper rolls to 312 sheets per roll, from 340. Folger’s has reduced its 51-ounce container to 43.5 ounces, supposedly without affecting the total output of 400 cups of coffee, at least according to its packaging label. Cereal boxes are smaller too.
Some consumers refer to these minor changes as “shrinkflation,” a smart move on the part of manufacturers, according to Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate. He said the process appeals to companies because customers are less likely to notice a smaller package size than a price increase. Companies also create flashier packaging to attract customers, hoping they won’t notice or care about the reduced size or increased price. Still, they’re not exactly forthcoming about their intentions. Many refused to respond when asked to comment on the smaller packaging and contents.
Restaurants Aren’t Immune
Shrinkflation is also hitting restaurants, which are also paying increased costs for food, despite purchasing wholesale and in bulk. As a result, the meal that hits your plate at an eatery is likely to be smaller, and it’s not going unnoticed. There’s been a 36% increase in reviews for food businesses regarding portion sizes and other portion-related experiences since last year.
Is it just me or are sandwich sizes and restaurant portions getting smaller in a lot of places?
— dalibali (@dalibali2) June 14, 2022
Some popular franchises have made noticeable cuts, like Domino’s Pizza, which reduced its 10-piece package of wings to an 8-piece package for the same price. Others claim there is no reduction, despite customer claims to the contrary.
As a result of rising prices and shrinkflation, some shoppers are choosing to get creative about how they shop. For example, instead of buying pre-sliced cheese, some are choosing to buy the block and slice it themselves. Others are forgoing eating out for a cooked-in meal.
How have your shopping habits changed due to inflation? Do you notice the smaller sizes at the grocery store and in restaurants?
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