Shrinkflation causing a surprise for Halloween enthusiasts.
Indeed, your perception is accurate: Halloween candy has genuinely shrunk in size over time.
Sylvain Charlebois, a food distribution policy professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, pointed out that the downsizing, often referred to as ‘shrinkflation,’ enables companies to maintain the same quantity of ‘units’ in their packages while offering less actual product inside.
“It’s not a mirage,” said Charlebois “You’re basically getting less for the same price.”
Shrinkflation is not limited to Halloween candy.
Companies frequently employ this strategy across various products, particularly in times of escalating inflation.
What accentuates its prominence in Halloween candy, according to Charlebois, is the fact that these products only grace the shelves once a year, making the downsized portions more conspicuous
According to him, there are several factors contributing to the reduction in size.
Inflation, responsible for rising prices across the board, plays a significant role in this shrinkage.
However, there are also more confectionery factors at play.
The first is the soaring cost of cocoa, which Charlebois noted has reached historic peaks, with cocoa futures, essentially contracts to purchase the product at a pre-set future price, currently at a 44-year high.
This isn’t great news for chocolate enthusiasts and the prospects of upcoming holiday treats.
