Eagle-eyed Tesco shoppers may have spotted a change to some of the meals they have added to their trolleys recently.
The supermarket has reduced the size of its own-brand ready meals, cutting them by 50g each; but buying these smaller products won’t save customers any pennies. The price of some of the reduced ready meals has remained the same - and others are even more expensive than before.
According to research from The Grocer, Tesco has swapped out its 450g ready meals for 400g versions, while 800g meals have also shrunk to 750g. Data from Assosia showed that the supermarket’s Cottage Pie is now 50g lighter, but still costs the same at £3.50.
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Meanwhile, Tesco’s Sweet Potato Red Thai Curry & Jasmine Rice has risen in price by 5p from £2.75 to £2.80, despite now weighing 50g less. But Tesco isn’t the only supermarket that has been quietly shrinking its meals recently, as reported by The Mirror.
Research from Assosia showed that Morrisons also reduced its range of 450g Indian-style curries with rice to 400g each earlier this year, with the likes of Chicken Jalfrezi with Basmati Rice, Chicken Korma with Pilau Rice, and Chicken Tikka Masala with Pilau Rice all affected. The meals have since risen in price from £2.75 to £3.49.
The move is an example of 'shrinkflation' - the process whereby products shrink in size or quality with no reduction in price. Many other retailers and brands have taken similar measures in recent weeks due to rising costs.
Packs of Flora, Bertolli and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter were downsized last month, with parent company Upfield citing “significant commodity cost increases”. Mars also shrunk the size of its Maltesers sharing bags and Twix multipacks, blaming “rising costs of raw materials and operations”.
The Mirror has contacted Tesco for a response.
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