It’S Quality Not Quantity

[Raistlin]

Tins will contain 18 per cent less chocolate this Christmas but will be sold for the same price

They are a Christmas favourite in households across the UK.

But British families might find their traditional tin of Quality Street going empty a tad quicker this year.

Tins of the chocolates have been shrunk just before the Christmas period when sales of the sweets are at their highest.

A tin of Quality Street will contain less chocolate this Christmas

Food giant Nestle who produce the sweets have been criticised for failing to reduce the price of the chocolates, prompting campaigners to describe the move as a hidden price rise.

The purple tins have been reduced in size by 18 per cent - from 1kg to 820g.

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A report in trade magazine The Grocer said: ‘The Christmas shrink ray has struck again, and this year it is Nestle pulling the trigger.

‘The tins are being sold by Tesco for £5, the same price as last year’s larger tins, though Nestle claimed the recommended selling price was lower.’

The move is part of a trend amongst confectionary manufacturers to reduce product sizes in order counter rising production costs.

Other Christmas favourite Cadbury’s Roses were reduced from 975g to 850g by manufacturer Kraft last year, while the American company also cut Heroes from 950g to 800g.

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American company Kraft cut Heroes from 950g to 800g last year

Cadbury's Roses were reduced from 975g to 850g last year

Some of Britain’s most popular confectionary items have been affected by size reductions, including smaller chocolate bars such as Mars and Dairy Milk.

Packets of Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts have been reduced from 215g to 190g, while bags of Bassett’s Jelly Babies, Maynards Wine Gums and Haribo have also been reduced in weight.

Consumer watchdog Which? accused confectionary companies of ‘treating customers like idiots’.

The group’s executive director Richard Lloyd said: ‘We think these shrinking products are little more than hidden price rises.

A spokesman for Nestle said: ‘The recommended retail price of our standard tin has reduced proportionally greater than the reduction of the weight, ensuring consumers are getting more for their money.

‘The price shopkeepers sell Quality Street at is at their sole discretion.

‘The tin size weight is now in line with similar products in the market who reduced weight in previous years.’

[acetip]

If they reduce the content of the tins much more then we will need longer arms to reach the sweets.

If you pick up a tin (which has not been reduced in size) then just by shaking it you can tell just how few sweets are in it.

Where once these tins would be full, now not even half full.