Shopkeepers have told how they were left ‘shocked’ after the popular chocolate bar was reduced by almost a quarter from 51g to 40g but still came at the same price
The maker of Mars Bars has come under fire for alleged ‘shrinkflation’ – slashing the size of certain bars by almost a quarter while maintaining the same price point.
Shop owners report that from March onwards, they started spotting that the confectionery giant had reduced individual chocolate bar weights from 51g to 40g – yet kept wholesale and recommended retail prices unchanged.
These allegations are backed up by data from a major wholesaler, which shows the 51g variant – now listed as ‘discontinued’ – had a 75p price tag and delivered retailers a 24.24% profit margin. The replacement 40g version maintains the identical 75p price mark and 24.24% profit margin for stockists.
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Jim Moorhead, who runs Top Cards in Livingstone, Renfrewshire, told Better Retailing: “I have just bought a box of Mars Bars and was shocked to discover they have reduced their weight by 21.5%.
“I think they should be ashamed of themselves, yet again, the small business owners are being screwed. We’d have to price them at £2 to get the equivalent profit increase as the manufacturer.”
A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley UK and Ireland said: “At Mars Wrigley, we’re committed to delivering high-quality snacks consumers enjoy.
“Recently, we made select updates to our bar sizes and pack formats to ensure a consistent supply to our retail customers. Consumers will find a range of pack formats – from on-the-go to sharing occasions – designed to reflect new ways consumers are snacking, as well as the need for affordability.
“At Mars, we will always offer our high-quality snacks at the best possible value for money. As part of our work to update our pack formats, we also increased the number of products in our portfolio under 200kcal per single serving by updating bar sizes.
“Mars and Snickers bars are now slightly smaller. While retail pricing is set by individual retailers, our priority is always to provide the great-tasting treats consumers know and love, at prices they can afford.”
Last year, the Mirror told how families had been hit with a new wave of shrinkflation, according to consumer champion Which? The investigation found that big brands had cut back on the size or quantity of popular products, from toothpaste to heartburn medicine.
Which? Retail editor Reena Sewraz said in October that the changes felt “especially sneaky” and called for manufacturers to be more upfront.
