The Consumers’ Association found dozens of new examples of contraction inflation. For example, Sportlife puts less chewing gum in a jar, Ariel puts less washing powder in a pack and Andrélon puts less conditioner in a bottle. While the price remains the same. And sometimes the content goes down and the price goes up, such as with Vanish Oxi Action stain remover and Vision sunscreen. As a result, consumers pay 13% and 28% more for the product, respectively.
Conversations lead nowhere
Earlier this year, the Consumer & Markets Authority called on providers to be more transparent about changes, for example by explicitly stating this on packaging. The Consumers’ Association discussed this with trade organizations CBL and FNLI, but without results. Albert Heijn and Jumbo also did not respond to a request from the Consumers’ Association to actively inform their customers of packaging whose contents have been reduced.
Carrefour good example
Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumers’ Association: ‘Consumers are extremely annoyed by sneaky price increases. Our Honest Reporting Center received more than 1,300 reports of shrinkage in just under a year. It is therefore incomprehensible that supermarkets and manufacturers refuse to be transparent about this. They should take an example from Carrefour, the largest supermarket chain in France. It warns its customers about shrinkflation with signs next to products.’
Judge’s verdict
Because the providers are not taking action, the Consumers’ Association will submit a number of examples to the court for a judgment. Molenaar: ‘We believe shrinkage is an unfair commercial practice and want to know whether the judge also sees it that way.’
2023-10-24 20:58:14
#Manufacturers #supermarkets #warn #shrinkage
