PepsiCo is reportedly making efforts to reverse recent “shrinkflation” practices amid sliding sales and complaints from consumers.
Executives at the food and beverage giant said on its latest earnings call that Americans have spent noticeably less on the company’s snacks of late, instead opting for cheaper brands.
During the third quarter of 2024, PepsiCo’s snack sales dropped by 1%, while snack volumes fell by 1.5%. The surprise drop was followed by a cut in PepsiCo’s annual forecast from 4% to a lower single-digit amount.
To combat the decline, PepsiCo said that it would be adding 20% more chips to its snack products. The company also plans to add more bags to their multi-packs — two more small chip bags will go into new, 18-bag variety packs.
Companies have turned to promotions in an effort to win back consumers following an industry-wide trend toward combatting inflation with smaller product sizes. Lately, however, those efforts have proven to be less and less effective with frustrated shoppers.
In 2021, a consumer shrinkflation tracker found that PepsiCo’s Tostitos and Ruffles brands had shaved off one or two ounces across multiple products while keeping the price intact. Lipton Ice Tea, another PepsiCo product, dropped from 1.5 to 1.25 liters, yet the cost per liter went up 40%.