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> A Mars spokesperson said: "Over the last 35 years, we have made a number of updates to our bar sizes and pack formats to reflect consumer demand, alongside co
by ornornor 1mo ago
> A Mars spokesperson said: "Over the last 35 years, we have made a number of updates to our bar sizes and pack formats to reflect consumer demand, alongside considering wider external factors such as manufacturing costs and the price of cocoa."
I can guarantee you this is not “consumer demand”. Nobody goes to the store thinking “I wish shrinkflation was even more prevalent and that I’d get even less for my money”. Screw you corporate BS PR department, you’re not even trying.
- dom96 1mo agoTo be fair, some customers may prefer portions that are less unhealthy.
- wolvoleo 1mo agoIf you care about health you won't eat a mars bar. In fact even if you care about taste you wouldn't. It's nothing but a tasteless processed sugar bar. I didn't even like them as a kid.
- shaewest 1mo agoHealth isn't a 'perfect or your unhealthy' it's much more of a 'Make the better option, most of the time' in which, similar to the original comment, I am quite happy that the chocolate I can have a treat with has less calories but feels identical in levels of being a treat. I'd pay the same for chocolate bars that were half the size if they were easily available.
- wolvoleo 1mo agoThey are, they're called minis :) https://www.piccantino.com/mars/classic-minis https://www.piccantino.com/mars/classic-minis But if you want to indulge, there's a lot much much nicer quality treats than a mars bar, that's what I meant. That might be better for you but also a lot tastier. But tastes differ of course. I love sweets and snacks and I eat too many but I never like the American ones so much. We have a shop nearby that sells American sweets but they are all so heavy on the sugar. Chocolates are too sugary, You can't really taste anything else. And things like nerds have this really strong artificial flavour. But that's personal of course and also what I grew up with.
- typeofhuman 1mo agoYou should not be getting down voted. HN isn't Reddit. Down votes are for comments not contributing to conversation. This is a valid point. I will say it, candy bars are garbage and should by no means be ingested.
- nedt 1mo agoWell disrespecting someone because of their cravings is indeed not contributing to the conversation. It's fine to ingest garbage once in a while. If you can make it less that's still better.
- shepherdjerred 1mo agoYour comment about downvoting is not correct. There is no 'official' stance but there is a comment from pg in 2008: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 > I think it's ok to use the up and down arrows to express agreement. Obviously the uparrows aren't only for applauding politeness, so it seems reasonable that the downarrows aren't only for booing rudeness.
- shepherdjerred 1mo agoAbsolutely not true. Easy comparison: I prefer to buy the mini 8oz coke cans over 12oz. I drink a can every once in a while because I just want a taste. Smaller cans lead to me consuming less. > In fact even if you care about taste you wouldn't. So clearly your argument is really about... the quality of mass produced candy bars? And you're proposing that others just don't have functioning tastebuds? Honestly I'm not sure what the point of your comment was other than for you to be negative. It is possible for others to have opinions that do not align with your own.
- tetris11 1mo agoAgreed, but then shrink the price too
- porsager 1mo agoIt is consumer demand if consumers stop buying the 62.5g bar because prices had to be increased for them to make a profit. If they instead keep the price while lowering the weight and consumers keeps buying how can you say that there was no demand?
- jagraff 1mo agoI suspect shrinkflation happens because, when prices go up, consumers will prefer to buy a similarly priced (but smaller) candy bar rather than a higher priced, same size bar; that is, consumers prefer shrinkflation to price inflation, even if they are the same rise in price-per-gram
- gaze 1mo agoWhy not simultaneously shrink at the rate the market will bear AND increase the price to what the market will bear AND decrease the cocoa to what the market will bear
- SV_BubbleTime 1mo agoWell… for one, your competitors would have an instant marketable advantage over you. What “the market will bear” isn’t what you think it is. Mars and Hersey and … idk is there another candy company?… don’t meet in a smoke filled room figuring how best to make you poor and fat. “What the market will bear” in a free market much more means what you can offer as a value before you introduce a opportunity more competition or an alternative to your product. If your industry does meet in a smoke filled room, that is neither capitalism nor a free market. I suggest everyone read Sowell’s Basic Economics at least once as an adult.
- anon48293 1mo ago> Mars and Hersey and … idk is there another candy company?… don’t meet in a smoke filled room figuring how best to make you poor and fat. That’s exactly what they do. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/mars-nestle-hershey-accused-chocolate-price-fixing-conspiracy-canada-flna6c10238435 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/mars-nestle-hershey-accus... > If your industry does meet in a smoke filled room, that is neither capitalism nor a free market. Yes it is, which is why you need regulation and law enforcement.
- gaze 1mo agoWho said anything about trying to make anyone poor and/or fat? I’m saying they try to maximize profits. Why does the room have to have smoke in it? They meet in a room — and now you’re doing “no true Scotsman”
- wolvoleo 1mo agoYeah he misspelled "shareholder demand"
- nielsbot 1mo ago> consumer demand "My Steak Is Too Juicy, My Lobster Is Too Buttery" vibes
- ccakes 1mo agoCounterpoint - the two major Australian supermarkets both sell in-store “finished” cookies that are like crack. They’re delicious. They come in a pack of 5 for $3.50 but 5 is way too much. I’d gladly pay $1 each for them as a snack while I’m shopping There are occasions where shrinkflation does make sense. In the Mars case, I’d say there is consumer demand on the health side as well. Yes, a Mars bar is never “healthy” but 40g is less worse than 60g