You won't believe the subtle change Coles made to a lunchbox staple that left shoppers outraged!
- Replies 9
For many Australians, Kellogg's LCMs are a lunchbox staple and an important part of childhood. But a series of recent changes have left shoppers outraged.
The old packet was listed as $4.50 and contained six bars, while the newer one contained only five bars–yet was still priced at $4.50. Image source: Reddit.
It all began when a social media user shared a photo of two boxes side-by-side on a Coles shelf, noting the key difference: the old packet was listed as $4.50 and contained six bars, while the newer one contained only five bars–yet was still priced at $4.50.
Unfortunately, the popular snack recently fell prey to 'shrinkflation'–a practice where products become smaller while their prices remain the same.
But the differences did not stop there. Other users pointed out that the size of each bar had shrunken from 22g to just 20g–a 2g difference. This means that customers were paying 7 cents more per bar for less product.
In response, a Coles spokesperson told Yahoo Finance that the price of the product had indeed been amended to account for the removed sixth bar, and customers could now purchase a box of five LCMs for $4.50–down from $5 previously.
Unfortunately, the unit price had risen from 83 cents to 90 cents each, as the bar size had been reduced. The Coles spokesperson did not address this change, while Kellogg's has yet to respond.
As we can see, this isn’t the only example of 'shrinkflation' at the supermarket. Other popular brands that have been called out for similar practices in recent months include Arnott's, Coles Bakery, and Omo laundry detergentr. Here’s another article on other supermarket favourites affected by ‘shrinkflation’.
Strategies to combat 'shrinkflation'
While it is disheartening to witness your favourite products go through 'shrinkflation', there are some savvy tricks to combat this quiet blow to your wallet. It doesn't necessarily mean switching loyalty from your beloved brands, rather, it is simply adopting a more conscious shopping habit.
For starters, pay close attention to the unit price of items on the shelf rather than just looking at the total cost. Many Coles supermarkets and other chains provide unit pricing information on their shelf tags. This translates into the price you pay per gram or per 100 grams, allowing you to easily compare prices across different brands and sizes.
Next, remain flexible with your preferences and avoid relying only on one brand. One of the luxuries we have in supermarkets these days is the range of choices available to us. If Kellogg's LCMs have shrunk and are giving you less bang for your buck, perhaps it's time to get experimental and try out different snack options with a better value proposition.
Let us remember that buying in bulk is one of the best methods under our belt. While this might not be possible for every product, it's an excellent way to achieve cost savings for non-perishable items and those with a long shelf life. This might mean that you will be carrying home a gigantic box of your favourite snack from time to time, but you'll be laughing all the way to the bank with the extra savings!
Remember, knowledge is power. Simply being aware that many supermarket brands use 'shrinkflation' as a strategy can be the first step in combating it–saving you money and ensuring you get the best value for your hard-earned cash.
If you have noticed ‘shrinkflation’ in your favourite supermarket, let us know in the comments below!
The old packet was listed as $4.50 and contained six bars, while the newer one contained only five bars–yet was still priced at $4.50. Image source: Reddit.
The old packet was listed as $4.50 and contained six bars, while the newer one contained only five bars–yet was still priced at $4.50. Image source: Reddit.
It all began when a social media user shared a photo of two boxes side-by-side on a Coles shelf, noting the key difference: the old packet was listed as $4.50 and contained six bars, while the newer one contained only five bars–yet was still priced at $4.50.
Unfortunately, the popular snack recently fell prey to 'shrinkflation'–a practice where products become smaller while their prices remain the same.
But the differences did not stop there. Other users pointed out that the size of each bar had shrunken from 22g to just 20g–a 2g difference. This means that customers were paying 7 cents more per bar for less product.
In response, a Coles spokesperson told Yahoo Finance that the price of the product had indeed been amended to account for the removed sixth bar, and customers could now purchase a box of five LCMs for $4.50–down from $5 previously.
Unfortunately, the unit price had risen from 83 cents to 90 cents each, as the bar size had been reduced. The Coles spokesperson did not address this change, while Kellogg's has yet to respond.
Other popular brands called out for practising ‘shrinkflation’ in recent months include Arnott's, Coles Bakery, and Omo laundry detergent. Image source: gpointstudio on Freepik.
As we can see, this isn’t the only example of 'shrinkflation' at the supermarket. Other popular brands that have been called out for similar practices in recent months include Arnott's, Coles Bakery, and Omo laundry detergentr. Here’s another article on other supermarket favourites affected by ‘shrinkflation’.
Strategies to combat 'shrinkflation'
While it is disheartening to witness your favourite products go through 'shrinkflation', there are some savvy tricks to combat this quiet blow to your wallet. It doesn't necessarily mean switching loyalty from your beloved brands, rather, it is simply adopting a more conscious shopping habit.
Pay close attention to the unit price of items on the shelf rather than just looking at the total cost. Image source: ACCC.
For starters, pay close attention to the unit price of items on the shelf rather than just looking at the total cost. Many Coles supermarkets and other chains provide unit pricing information on their shelf tags. This translates into the price you pay per gram or per 100 grams, allowing you to easily compare prices across different brands and sizes.
Next, remain flexible with your preferences and avoid relying only on one brand. One of the luxuries we have in supermarkets these days is the range of choices available to us. If Kellogg's LCMs have shrunk and are giving you less bang for your buck, perhaps it's time to get experimental and try out different snack options with a better value proposition.
Let us remember that buying in bulk is one of the best methods under our belt. While this might not be possible for every product, it's an excellent way to achieve cost savings for non-perishable items and those with a long shelf life. This might mean that you will be carrying home a gigantic box of your favourite snack from time to time, but you'll be laughing all the way to the bank with the extra savings!
Remember, knowledge is power. Simply being aware that many supermarket brands use 'shrinkflation' as a strategy can be the first step in combating it–saving you money and ensuring you get the best value for your hard-earned cash.
If you have noticed ‘shrinkflation’ in your favourite supermarket, let us know in the comments below!
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