Ever heard of ‘shrinkflation’? It’s when your favourite products start getting smaller but keep the same (or even higher) price tag. And it’s happening more than you’d think! According to research, everyday items like coffee, toothpaste, and even Gaviscon haven’t escaped this sneaky phenomenon. One shopper noticed Aquafresh toothpaste jumped from £1.30 for 100ml to £2 for 75ml. Meanwhile, those who swear by Gaviscon for heartburn might have noticed bottles shrink from 600ml to 500ml, while prices stay steady at £14.
How about your morning brew? Nescafe Original Instant Coffee now gives you 10g less for the same price. Chocolate lovers, beware! Some KitKat multipacks lost three bars while prices soared from £3.60 to £5.50. And if you’re saving up for Quality Street tubs for Christmas, they’re 50g lighter this year.
But it’s not just about size — ingredient quality is slipping too. Shoppers report some biscuits now have more palm oil instead of cocoa, changing how they’re marketed.
With Christmas around the corner and shopping lists getting longer, it’s getting harder to stretch pounds at the checkout. The industry giants say rising ingredient costs like cocoa and dairy are the culprits, making it tricky to keep products as they used to be. Their advice? Keep an eye on unit pricing for the best deals and value.
Can you spot shrinking products in your trolley? Share your examples below! Let’s keep each other informed and make the most out of our grocery hauls. 🌟🍫🛒