Arnott’s customers are angry that Tiny Teddy multi-packs are being sold in bundles of eight instead of 10. (Photo: Kelsey Rettino)
Arnott’s has downsized one of its most iconic products, the Tiny Teddy, prompting outrage among the biscuit manufacturers’ customers.
Tiny Teddy multi-packs have been rolled out across supermarkets containing only eight bags of biscuits instead of 10. But the recommended retail price of $3.99 has remained the same.
Tiny Teddies aren’t the only Arnott’s brand to suffer packet shrinkage, with its Shapes snack packs also bearing a 20% reduction in product.
Angry customers took to social media to voice their frustration, with some vowing to boycott the biscuit company.
Transparency important to customers – Choice
This isn’t the first time Arnott’s has received widespread criticism for changing its products. Last April, Arnott’s overhauled its Shapes flavours, in an effort to improve the biscuits’ healthcare rating. The change proved widely unpopular, and Arnott’s reintroduced the original recipes due to “popular demand”.
Consumer advocacy group Choice said downsizing products but charging customers the same price is nothing new.
“This is the latest of packet shrinkages we’ve seen from food manufacturers”, Choice spokesperson Nicky Breen said.
She said Kellogg’s Pringles are also guilty of packet shrinkage. Choice awarded Pringles a Shonky award last year, after the chip manufacturer downsized its cylinders from 150g to 134g.
“Transparency is really important for consumers… If you’re paying the same for less of a product, you’re paying more”.
New packaging a “better fit”
Arnott’s is packaging its Tiny Teddy and Shapes multi-packs in cardboard boxes. (Photo: Kelsey Rettino)
Arnott’s has defended changing its packaging, saying the new boxed multi-packs fit better “on the supermarket shelf and in your pantry”.
In a statement, the biscuit manufacturer said the reason for the downsize was “increased costs… including rises in ingredient and energy prices”.
Choice said blaming the packet shrinkage on price increases is “disingenuous”.
“Companies will come up with a myriad of excuses whenever they do this,” Ms Breen said.
But not everyone has been angered by the move, with some welcoming the new packaging. While the Tiny Teddy multi-packs were once packaged in plastic, the new packets of eight come in cardboard boxes.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this”
Shashank Murali is one Arnott’s customer who is angry that the biscuit manufacturer has downsized Tiny Teddies. (Photo: Kelsey Rettino)
Shashank Murali buys Arnott’s products to take as snacks to university. He said its decision to downsize is disappointing.
“I can’t believe they’re doing this… it’s the same price and it’s a lesser quantity, so I’m definitely a bit upset by it,” he said.
“I don’t know if they’re trying to trick us into thinking that we’re buying the same amount but for the same price… It’s definitely disincentivising me to keep buying their products.”
Mr Murali said in the future, he’ll be looking to alternatives to Arnott’s Tiny Teddies for his snacks to take to university.
“There are plenty of other products that sell a much higher quantity and for the same price. I don’t understand why I’d keep buying Tiny Teddies when clearly it’s the more expensive option.”
In its statement, Arnott’s told frustrated customers that despite providing an RRP, it’s up to retailers to determine the price of its products.
“It is important to note that we do not set the price our products are sold at – that is up to the individual retailer.”
