In the never ending saga of shrinking products, we sadly bring you a roundup of some of the latest casualties.
*MOUSE PRINT:
The company (P&G) eliminated 11 sheets per roll. And that is after lopping of 12 sheets in 2013. To remind everyone, the original Charmin had 600 or 650 single-ply sheets per roll. Mouse Print* asked P&G why they downsized Charmin again. We did not get a response. Special thanks to Richard G., once again, for finding this example.
Coffee is another one of those products that is subject to periodic downsizing, but this change was a big one.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Folgers 100% Colombian coffee went from 27.8 ounces down to 24.2 ounces. That is a loss of 30 cups according to the package label. Regular users might have noticed this change because the container is substantially smaller. We asked Smucker why they downsized Folgers. Their PR person responded:
We have observed a shift in the way consumers purchase coffee. Coffee drinkers are coming back to grocery store shelves quicker and are purchasing a larger variety of products across the aisle, all while seeking a lower, more attractive price. A reduced canister size allows us to meet the needs of this evolving coffee consumer.
We responded to that spin asking if the company lowered the wholesale price of the coffee proportionately. The company responded that they lowered the suggested retail price. We asked for both the old and new suggested retail price so we could do the math ourselves, but we did not get the data.
We also checked at a neighborhood Stop & Shop supermarket, and found that both sizes were selling for the same $8.99 on sale.
So here’s a new wrinkle to downsizing: are stores pocketing price drops when a product shrinks instead of passing on the savings (if any) to their customers?
Thanks to Alanna K for spotting this change.
We don’t see a lot of frozen food downsizing, except for ice cream usually, so this was a great catch by Jim S.
*MOUSE PRINT:
No more one pound Boston Market Salisbury Steak, it is now slimmer and trimmer at 14.5 ounces.
Lastly, we have some more downsizing in the chip department, and this is a huge change.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Almost 25% of Synder’s tortilla chips was removed and the $3.49 price stayed the same. The company said they did this to align their products with those of the competition. Thanks again to Richard G. for this find.
The situation must be really bad if frozen food is being downsized. Frozen food is barely food as it is.
In regards to Charmin, I would add that a few months back they also reduced the size of the individual sheets.
Edgar replies: George, Charmin’s sheets have been 3.92″ by 4.00″ since 2013, as far as I can tell.
I may no longer be a dedicated Folgers customer.
Well George are you talking about the Charmin flushable wet wipes? Those may gotten the size cut this year. The Charmin toilet paper has not gotten a size cut yet, but it seems like that is the only thing left they can do.
At the rate Charmin is going a double roll is only going to have two sheets of paper on it if they keep on cutting the roll size.
How can I really enjoy the go if I have to change the roll at a much faster rate.
American company’s doing what they do best screwing the comsumer.
Coffee: I use Yuban – at 29 oz. it hasn’t changed for a long while! At least not yet!!!
I have not noticed the size of the Charmin flushable wet wipes changing – At least not yet. I keep wondering when that’s going to happen.
It is incredible how small toilet paper rolls are anymore, both actual size and the amount on a roll.
And bags of chips are all going to be snack sized soon…..
As for that Boston Market dinner. I used to buy that. They changed the meat a year or so ago. It wasnt exactly awesome before. But now… Blech.
this all drives me insane! what is a consumer to do? gotta have TP-need my coffee (not folgers)
I did note Trader Joes still sells a full HALF gallon of vanilla ice cream! I wrote them a letter thanking them and asked them to keep it-I’d rather pay a little more and get same size.
when will the shrinking stop? at current rates, the packages will be microscopic!
thanks for letting me vent.