Looks like Shrinkflation will continues into 2026 as food manufacturers across the world have been reducing package sizes instead of raising prices outright. Economists note that manufacturers have often quietly resize products to manage rising labour, ingredients and logistic costs in 2025.
In UK, Aquafresh toothpaste went from £1.30 for 100ml to £2 for 75ml – a 105% increase. Nescafe original instant coffee size was cut from 200g to 190g – about 5% rise per 100g. And both Nestle’s Quality Street and Mars’s Celebration Chocolate boxes lost 50g from 600g to 550g and from 550g to 500g respectively.
Malaysian manufacturers are also under mounting pressure to maintain quality, quantity and prices as consumers are tightening their belts amid increasing cost of living. Shrinkflation has been hitting Malaysian consumers since 2023 and it varies from staple food such as Milo to Whiskas cat’s food, in which the packaging became lighter from 1.3kg to 1.1kg from a year ago.
