Shoppers feeling pinch of ‘slack-filling’

A good majority of shoppers are noticing the rising practice of “slack-filling”, a new form of shrinkflation wherein certain items often contain less of the actual product than suggested by the size of the packaging.

According to a research by Barclays, 70 per cent of shoppers said they had noticed that certain items often contain less of the actual product than suggested by the size of the packaging – a trend otherwise known as ‘slack-filling’. Crisps (65 per cent), sweets (43 per cent), biscuits (43 per cent), boxes of chocolate (42 per cent) and washing detergent (21 per cent) were the products most cited as being impacted by ‘slack-filling.

Meanwhile, 41 per cent of people stated that some Christmas food and drink products appear to be smaller or weigh less despite costing the same or more than last year. This includes boxes of chocolate (30 per cent), cheese (14 per cent), mince pies (12 per cent), and Christmas pudding and cake (both 11 per cent).

However, the consumers surveyed also recognised that supermarkets are trying to combat inflation, with 36 per cent saying they had noticed prices on some supermarket staples have fallen recently.

“At the supermarket, value-for-money is still a priority, with consumers increasingly wary of ‘slack-filling’, when a product’s packaging hides unnecessary empty space inside,” reports quoted Esme Harwood, Director at Barclays, as saying.

“On a brighter note, supermarkets are also being given credit for trying to keep prices down, with one in three noticing price cuts on everyday items.”