Offers in “max” format or in batches are pinpointed by a survey by the Foodwatch association unveiled this Wednesday, April 26. They would be promoted as bargains, but the prices per kilo reveal higher tariffs.
Buy more to earn nothing? Foodwatch Association (which fights for more transparency in the agri-food industry and distribution) alerts this Wednesday, April 26 on the misleading practices of large retailers. Food offers sold in “family” format or in batches are flourishing on supermarket shelves. But by checking the labels on the shelves, the prices per kilo of these large formats turn out to be more expensive for certain products than the same product in standard packaging.
Investigation cites major brand products voluntarily highlighted in this type of large format batches, even though they are more expensive items: “The price per kilo of Pépito Lu biscuits increases by nearly 25% when they are sold in packs of two, slices of Gouda at Cora are 28% more expensive per kilo when the pack goes from 8 slices to 14 in maxi format”.
Foodwatch wants to stop price scams on “family sizes”
This practice is denounced by the association: “With galloping inflation, many consumers wishing to save money are turning to what they think are good deals”. To carry out this survey, Foodwatch “checked in the ‘drives’ and the shelves of the main retail chains” to carry out an inventory of products concerned by this practice.
Here are the 12 products pinned by the survey:
- fresh pasta Gnocchi à Pan Frying Roll Lustucru at €7.83/kg in 300g compared to €8.38/kg in their maxi version in 500g, an increase of 7%
- slices of Gouda Cora are at €10.55/kilo for a 200g package compared to €13.54/kg in its maxi format version in 350g, an increase of 28.3%
- Milka Sensations cookies are €13.13 per 182g pack compared to €15.38/kg in their maxi format 312g version, which is 17.1% more expensive for consumers
- Pépito chocolate-flavored shortbread biscuits, sold at €3.54 per kilo in the classic format (294g), compared to a batch of 2 x 294g at €4.42/kg, i.e. a 24.5% increase between the two formats
- the President fondant goat cheese log, at €12.12/kilo in 180g, compared to €12.79/kilo in the maxi version (380g), therefore an increase of 5.5%
- minced Fleury Michon chicken at €19.27/kg for 150g, compared to €21.40/kg for 250g, an increase of 11%
- 5.4% increase between Nesquik cereal bars, sold at €11.93/kg in 6x25g compared to €12.57/kg in its maxi format version (12x25g)
- zero sugar Pepsi at €0.88/kilo in 200g, compared to €0.90/kilo in family size (4×1.5L), an increase of 2.3%
- Harry’s sliced brioche is at €5.15/kg for a 485g package compared to €5.47/kg in its maxi format version in 680g, that’s a 6.2% increase
- Pasquier croissants: €7.03/kilo in classic format (320g) €7.17/kilo in family size (640g) with a 1.9% increase
- orange juice without Joker pulp, at €2.05/kg in 1L compared to €2.19/kg in a batch of 4 x 1.5L, an increase of 6.9%
- D’Aucy tender hearts of palm at €19.95/kg in 220g, compared to €20.25/kg in a family batch of 2x220g, an increase of 1.5%.
A petition launched by Foodwatch to challenge the government
The president of Système U, Dominique Schelcher, reacted this Wednesday, April 26 on France 2 by assuring that “these are not scams but rather errors”. And to regret the association’s way of doing things: “To pillory a sign because we have spotted a product at the other end of France, it’s a particular method”.
Foodwatch has launched a petition which will be “sent every day with the new signatures by e-mail” to Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance. In September 2022, the association denounced another marketing practice: “shrinkflation”. This masks rising product prices by reducing quantities without changing the size of the package. It is legal provided that the mention of the weight of the foodstuff is modified. For Foodwatch, this misleads the consumer: “These abuses should be prohibited or strictly regulated as promotions are. With consumers, we are therefore calling on the government.”