A British woman has provided a startling visual lesson in 'shrinkflation' after opening a Cadbury Christmas selection box she had kept since the 1990s. Rachel Peacock shared a video online, expressing astonishment at the substantial size of the chocolate bars inside the vintage packaging compared to their modern counterparts.
A Sweet Blast from the Past
Rachel Peacock discovered the enormous festive box, which featured a delightfully nostalgic design of a cheerful Santa, elves, and Rudolph in vibrant colours, evocative of the era. Today, Cadbury uses a more contemporary purple design. Upon opening it, she was floored by the size of the chocolate bars, which had expired in July 1991.
In the video, Rachel marvels at each item. She held up a massive Picnic bar and noted a Boost bar wrapped in orange, rather than the modern blue packaging. Picking up a Fruit and Nut bar, she declared it a "proper chocolate bar" due to its chunky dimensions.
The Shocking Size Comparison
Rachel's demonstration highlighted the dramatic difference. "A Double Decker, look, you can actually hold it," she quipped, showing it was almost too large to grasp. She repeated the action with a Wispa bar, equally astounded. She also highlighted a Caramel bar, remarking on its proper thickness.
A key observation was that the chocolate bar fits the packaging. She pointed out that decades ago, packaging was snug around the bar, whereas today's boxes are often much looser, creating an illusion of more product. The box also contained a Five Centres bar, a product no longer available.
Public Reaction and The Reality of Shrinkflation
The video resonated widely, with many in the comments sharing nostalgic memories of receiving similar boxes from relatives. One user suggested sending the box back to Cadbury to remind them of the former sizes. The phenomenon Rachel highlighted is known as shrinkflation.
Shrinkflation is the practice where manufacturers reduce a product's size, weight, or quantity while maintaining or even increasing its price. It's a strategy used to manage rising production costs, like raw materials and wages, without a visible price hike that might deter customers. This tactic is widespread in the food and consumer goods sectors.
Rachel's discovery serves as a tangible, edible archive of how consumer goods have subtly changed over the past three decades, offering a stark visual reminder of the shrinking treats on supermarket shelves.
