Update Sept. 13, 2:45pm CT: A representative for Campbell’s clarifies that this is not a new can. They tell the Daily Dot:
“We know consumers continue to feel economic pressure and we’re doing everything we can to make sure our products remain affordable and provide great value.
This is not an example of shrinkflation. We have not changed the size of our most popular 18.8 ounce can of Chunky Soup. These are two different products that we sell to retail customers at different standard price points to meet different customer needs. Ultimately, though, the retailer determines the shelf price for products sold at its stores. In this case, it appears that this particular retailer procured both sizes and has decided to sell them to consumers at the same price. This is not what we would expect to see, and we will look into it with the retailer.“
Our original story is below.
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Shrinkflation might not be a thing of the past. That’s at least what one shopper is saying after she noticed something off about the new can of Campbell’s Chunky Steak and Potato Soup.
TikTok user Serena (@serenawolf8881) posted a video on Monday from the soup aisle of her local grocery store. “Hey Campbell’s,” she says to start the video. “I have a bit of a gripe with you. This is the old can, and this is the new can. Can you see the difference?”
Serena then lines up two cans of Campbell’s Chunky Steak and Potato Soup. They look nearly identical, except for that one of the cans is slightly bigger and is advertised to contain an additional gram of protein. “They’re both $1.99, but this one is 18.8 ounces, and this one is 16.3 ounces. For the same price. What in the [expletive]? You’re losing 2 ounces of soup for the same price. Ridiculous.”
Viewers criticize the new can
The video has amassed more than 73,000 views as of Wednesday morning. In the comments section, fellow shoppers weighed in on the continuation of pandemic-era shrinkflation. That is when brands lower the amount of product in a package without a corresponding drop in price.
One user wrote, “Hate ‘shrinkflation.’ We never get the old size back. Like ice cream used to be 1/2 gallon, now it’s 1.5 quarts or ‘Family sizes’ that are what the old regular size was.”
A second user wrote, “But you’re not looking at it through the lens of increasing shareholder value, and we all know that’s the most important thing in this country.”
A third user shared, “Also, they put in three tiny pieces of meat in the whole can. Haven’t eaten that for awhile now.”
Previous instances of soup shrinkflation
Apparently, this isn’t the first time a discerning customer noticed a shift in the weight of a Campbell’s soup product. Two years ago, a Reddit user posted to r/shrinkflation about Campbell’s Creamy Tomato Soup getting smaller.
In the comments, one user wrote, “I noticed the change in can size as I walked past the soup section. I said to myself, ‘I have the older cans at home so I’ll check to see if they’re the same in ml.’ Campbell’s thinks they can trick us, but we won’t be tricked!”
In an interview with Yahoo Finance earlier in the year, Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse acknowledged the financial strain customers found themselves in over the past several years and promised that the company would not sacrifice quality or lower expectations. The company did its first significant redesign in decades last year in an effort to boost declining sales.
@serenawolf8881 This is getting ridiculous 😤 #capitalism #wtf #wth #seriously #fyp #fypage #fypシ゚viral #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp ♬ original sound – Serena Jones
The Daily Dot reached out to Serena via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. The Daily Dot also reached out to Campbell’s via press email for comment.
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