Arnott’s has reduced the size of some Shapes and Tiny Teddy snack packs

ARNOTT’S has shrunk the size of some popular biscuit snack packs, giving shoppers less bite for their buck. And consumers aren’t impressed.

ARNOTT’S has shrunk the size of some popular biscuit snack packs, giving shoppers less bite for their buck.

Multipacks of original BBQ and pizza Shapes and Tiny Teddy’s have been crunched from 10 bags to eight, a 20 per cent drop, but the recommended retail price has not budged from $3.99.

That works out at 50c per individual pack, compared with 40c before.

Mini choc chip cookies are down from eight individual packs to seven, and the recommended retail price is still $3.99.

RELATED:

‘SHRINK STINK’: OUR FAVOURITE FOODS JUST KEEP SHRINKING

POPULAR GROCERIES SNEAKILY SHRUNK

Arnott’s Tiny Teddy biscuits are a favourite in many households.

Arnott’s said while some 10 packs had moved to eight packs, larger packs of 12 or 15 had also been introduced.

The nation’s biggest biscuit maker blamed soaring energy costs for its reduced packs, which it had done instead of increasing the price at which it sold the products to retailers.

“As with all businesses, from time to time it is necessary for us to review the prices of our products. Recent increases in energy costs mean costs across our Australian bakeries are higher,” spokeswoman Nicky Thomson said.

Smaller packs suited smaller households. However various larger options had also been brought in for bigger families, and these worked out at the same RRP per individual pack as previously.

Snack packs would continue to be offered on promotion regularly.

Manufacturers recommend retail prices, but individual retailers ultimately decide shelf price.

Some shoppers are unimpressed with changes to Arnott’s snack packs.

Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said keeping the price the same while reducing product amount was “an all too common marketing trick”.

“It’s particularly concerning as industry is trying to remove displaying weight from the front of processed product packets,” he said.

Angry shoppers have taken to social media to complain of a “rip off”.

“Seriously Arnotts!!!! It’s not like things aren’t hard enough with this economy at the moment,” Karen Ellis posted on Facebook.

“Tiny Teddy’s are a great lunch box idea but not anymore. What a complete rip off!”

Sonia Peterson commented: “Feeding four boys is expensive enough and now they have made it worse”.

Sarah Clarke-Jones added: “Arnott’s you’ve just hit a new low in our house”.

Other grocery downsizing examples in recent years include Pringles chips, Magnum ice creams, Freddo frogs, Caramello Koalas, laundry liquid, deodorants and toilet paper.

Consumer unrest regarding Arnott’s downsized biscuit packs follows a backlash last year over “new and improved” Shapes flavours.

[e-mail]

@KarenCollierHS