Safeway Upsizes Ice Cream!
For the past five years, ice cream manufacturers have been inconspicuously downsizing their containers of ice cream. What started out as the standard half gallon, became 56 ounces, and then went down to 48 ounces:
Now, believe it or not, one brand has decided to UPSIZE its containers back to the original half gallon size.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Funny how they very clearly call your attention to the fact that the product is now larger, but when containers were downsized, manufacturers did not label them, “Look — New Smaller Size”.
Of course, today’s half gallon is priced higher than the original.
Thanks to some eagle-eyed employees of the USDA for this submission.
I assume Safeway Select is Safeway’s store brand of ice cream. The local store brand I’m familiar with has not so far reduced the size of their product while the name brands have done so. I wonder if Safeway Select is really a New Larger Size compared to what it used to be, or is Safeway trumpeting that they are still 64 oz. whereas the name brands are not? Either way, the companies that stiff their customers by stealthily reducing the quantity of their product while making their packaging appear the same deserve a big thumbs down from all of us. I try to do my bit by buying the standard sizes of things when possible, even if it means buying a brand I don’t usually buy.
Edgar replies: The current size of Safeway Select ice cream is 48 ounces. It is unclear whether the new 64 oz. size will be available in addition to or in replacement of the 48 oz. size.
Comment by Richard — July 19, 2010 @ 8:04 amTwo separate sizes? Maybe this is a start of a trend. Let’s hope so!
Comment by Frankie — July 19, 2010 @ 9:27 amJust bought some nestle chocolate syrup. They just downsized the old 2L bottle to 1.4 liter, and yep, still the same price.
Comment by Just_Gerald — July 19, 2010 @ 10:44 amOH yeah, it still shows the same # of portions, just tells you to use less (i.e. old 20 portion @20ml, new 20 portions @ 14 ml)
Comment by Just_Gerald — July 19, 2010 @ 10:47 amCredit is also due to Price Chopper: Their “house brand” Country Market has remained at an honest half-gallon. And as far as I can tell, it’s on par with any brand; excellent creamy texture and taste, while being priced well below the leading brands.
As an aside, Price Chopper’s brand of Tuna remains 6oz., while all others are now 5oz.
Comment by Marty — July 19, 2010 @ 11:31 amIsn’t this how it’s always done? Downsize until it’s too small for the users and then introduce the original size back at a higher price (with the size increase not proportional with the increase in price, but enough to cover costs) or keep the price then increase it later once the small size is forgotten.
Edgar replies: Exactly, Boris. They kept downsizing potato chips and Hershey’s candy bars so much, they had to re-introduce the larger size (but at a much higher price).
Comment by Boris — July 19, 2010 @ 2:50 pmHannaford’s Super Market still has an 8OZ yogurt. Price is forty-five cents.
China Mart sells a one gallon and one pint size ice cream for $5.50 in our area.
As one who loves ice cream I will go to a local wholesaler – Cerelli Foods – and get a three gallon pail (Hood) for around $15. Depends on the maker since the same pail can be $30 with another brand or with certain select flavors. Wholesalers have kept the three gallon pail standard for decades.
Comment by Rick — July 19, 2010 @ 3:59 pmWalmart always advertises Rollback prices but have you ever seen a “roll forward” price sign at Walmart. Consumer Reports use to always complain about Candy bars getting smaller but the cardboard base staying the same size.
Comment by Adler — July 19, 2010 @ 7:14 pmAbout once every two months I buy a six pack of eclairs at a local super market bakery. This week I notice in the flier they are promoting this item at the same price I usually pay – $3.99….only now it is a five pack.
I’ve also noticed that the pastries, muffins and donuts at Dunkin Donuts and Honey Dew Donuts are getting smaller. I asked a baker and he confirmed that. Anyone else notice that?
Comment by Rick — July 20, 2010 @ 11:47 amNothing “frosted” me more than seeing the bottom of plastic jars with the indents in them so they aren’t filled up like a flat bottoms would be. Culprits: Mayo -both Cain’s and Market Basket brands. The consumer seems to always get porked in the end.
Comment by CBurns — July 20, 2010 @ 12:35 pmAnother ice cream that is still 64ozs is Blue Bell. Of course, it is also the most expensive ice cream and almost never on sale.
Comment by Melissa — July 20, 2010 @ 5:34 pm1Gallon volume, how much CO2 gass??? This will relly give much less ice cream at over inflated price.
Comment by ed — July 20, 2010 @ 7:04 pmAnd coffee! And years ago the bags supermarkets use became smaller. Lately, at some of the newer stores, I’ve noticed smaller grocery carts. Oh, there are the new little ones, but also the bigger carts have been downsized. Is it to make it look like you have more stuff in it? Or to help you get through the smaller aisles?
Comment by Meryl Bote — July 21, 2010 @ 3:50 am@ Rick: I noticed that about Dunkin Donuts, too. I thought I might’ve just been imagining it. I never cared for how small Krispy Kreme donuts were (they’ve pretty much left my area by now) and lately I’ve noticed that Dunkin’s are just about as small. Thankfully I still have Donut N Donuts and they don’t seem to have shrunk.
Comment by Ron — July 21, 2010 @ 8:39 amI just bought Safeway ice cream in the “NEW” larger half gallon size.
Comment by Paul Dochow — April 11, 2011 @ 11:09 pmI’m 64 yrs old. I remember at least 60 years of ice cream in a half gallon box. It’s NOT new. How stupid do they think I am?
I’m not complaining about the product. Tastes as good as the “OLD” smaller stuff, and it costs less per ounce.
I just object to the fact that they think I would believe their NEW size crap.
I’m disgusted and insulted by the “New Larger Size” stamp. I remember buying ice cream in a half gallon for as long as I’ve done my own grocery shopping.
This “New Larger Size” is a direct insult, insinuating that I can’t remember what size ice cream has been just four years ago. They think they need to somehow trick us into paying more for the same thing. In fact, I realize that there are reasons why food prices might go up and I’d rather just deal with prices going up instead of all this underhanded insulting marketing.
Comment by Patrick — April 28, 2011 @ 5:51 pm