Consumer Products Squeeze Consumers – Big Squeeze on Mustard and Yogurt
The Big Squeeze
French's Mustard Bottle Shrink 6 oz.
It seems like the consumer products that aren’t loaded with sugar or corn syrup are getting smaller and while the products loaded with corn syrup are being supersized here in the USA. I’m having a little trouble making the financial sense of it all. In the last week or so (Aug. 01, 2009) I went to my local grocery store to pick up some regular items and one of the things I needed was Frenchs Mustard. I like it because it is a condiment alternative to ketchup and it tastes good.
Low and behold I purchase the “new and improved” Frenchs mustard and I come home to realize (compare the old and the new) that the Frenchs plastic bottle shrank by 6 ounces from 20 oz. to 14 oz. We are talking more than 25% shrinkage. The price did drop however from $2.19 to $1.89. But I have seen the same thing with Columbo Yogurt and even did a post about Columbo Yogurt here on my blog shrinking from 8 oz. to 6 oz. another 25% shrinkage.
Columbo Yogurt Product Shrinkage
My bet is that the price of this product will creep back up to $2.19 and the size will be a puny 14 oz. bottle of Frenchs Mustard, meanwhile the “size” has been reduced significantly, but I do bet one thing will go up….Frenchs profits. Do you think this is a deceptive practice or is this just plain old capitalism at work here?
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UnPlugged Mass Media. Internet consultant, small biz publisher. Social Lobbyist. Bring companies to market. I help guide and assist people 
In French’s defense. After I made this post I did poke around the Internet and did see that French’s is offering the 20 oz. and the 14 oz bottles. However, when I was in the local supermarket they only offered the 14 oz size I guess they either ran out or don’t carry the larger bottle.
August 2nd 2009 I went into a Stop & Shop grocery store and not 20 oz. mustard bottle to be found.
It’s not really surprising that businesses make these moves, however, it’s still up to the consumer to notice when they’re getting a raw deal. Paying attention to the price per oz can expose when companies make these changes, and thus allowing a consumer to make the proper decision on the spot.