German Court Rules Against Mondelēz Over Milka Chocolate Bar Shrinkflation
Milka maker milked shoppers over size of chocolate bars, German court rules
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
A German court has ruled that Mondelēz, the US owner of Milka chocolate, deceived consumers by reducing the size of its Alpine Milk bar from 100g to 90g while keeping the packaging unchanged. This decision highlights the growing issue of shrinkflation in the confectionery market, where product sizes are reduced without a corresponding price decrease.
- 01Mondelēz reduced the Milka Alpine Milk bar size from 100g to 90g without changing the packaging.
- 02The price of the bar increased from €1.49 to €1.99, despite the size reduction.
- 03The court ruled that consumers should have been clearly informed about the size change.
- 04Shrinkflation has become a widespread issue in the confectionery industry.
- 05Mondelēz has one month to appeal the court's decision.
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A regional court in Bremen, Germany, ruled against Mondelēz, the US owner of Milka chocolate, for misleading consumers by reducing the size of its classic Alpine Milk bar from 100g to 90g while maintaining the same packaging. This practice, known as shrinkflation, has become increasingly common as companies attempt to cope with rising costs. Following the change, the price of the Milka bar rose from €1.49 (approximately $1.59 USD) to €1.99 (approximately $2.12 USD). The court determined that Mondelēz should have included a clear notice on the packaging to inform consumers of the size reduction. The ruling is not final, as Mondelēz has one month to appeal. The case reflects a broader trend in the confectionery market, where brands like Quality Street and Toblerone have also faced scrutiny for similar practices. The court's decision emphasizes the need for transparency in product labeling, particularly in light of consumer backlash against shrinkflation.
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Consumers may feel misled and could demand more transparency from chocolate manufacturers about product sizes and pricing.
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