Reacty Digital research: Shrinking products, growing information

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 04. 29. 13:50

In Hungary, starting from March 1, 2024, larger food retailers will be required to provide attention-grabbing information to customers if the packaging of the prepackaged products they offer has decreased compared to the sizes used by the manufacturer between January 1, 2020 and July 1, 2023. Based on Reacty Digital’s survey in April, the public welcomes the new information obligation introduced in connection with shrink inflation – when the packaging of products decreases at the same price.

Almost everyone has encountered a “failed” product

82 percent of the Hungarian population aged 18-79 have come across a prepackaged product whose price has not been increased, but its packaging has been reduced (for example, 0.4 liters instead of the usual 0.5 liters, 0.9 kg instead of 1 kg). Two-thirds of the population have already heard about the obligation to inform food retailers, which draws attention to products with reduced packaging. Older people and those in a better financial situation are more attentive to these issues: with advancing age and an increase in per capita household income, the proportion of those who have already noticed shrink inflation in shops increases, as does the proportion of those who have heard of the relevant measure .

According to their own admission, seven out of ten have already bought a product with a reduced packaging, three out of ten customers have also happened to do this not consciously, but only realized it afterwards.