Lay’s, Doritos, Tostitos and Ruffles get more chips

[4th and Long]

Everyone put down the torches and pitchforks. The revolution is over.

Break out the Rotel dip.

America revolted against Tostitos and Ruffles. Now they’re making big changes



PepsiCo is unshrinking shrinkflation.

The owner of Lay’s, Doritos, Tostitos and Ruffles chips will put more chips in some bags to claw back customers tired of higher prices with skimpier bags. Shoppers have balked at downsized chips, cookies, paper towels and other products, widely known as shrinkflation, and turned to cheaper options or stopped buying altogether.

A PepsiCo spokesperson told CNN that Tostitos and Ruffles “bonus” bags will contain 20% more chips for the same price as standard bags in select locations. PepsiCo is also adding two additional small chip bags to its variety-pack option with 18 bags, the spokesperson said.

“It’s the football season. There’s a lot of gatherings,” PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said on an earnings call last week.

It’s a reversal of years of shrinking bags of Tostitos, Ruffles and other chip brands.

In 2021, Edgar Dworsky, a consumer protection lawyer and founder of the website Consumer World, who meticulously tracks shrinkflation, found that Tostitos’ “Hint of Guacamole” version shrank by one ounce from 12 to 11 ounces, while its “Hint of Lime” version dropped from 13 ounces to 11. Dworsky also found that Ruffles shaved off a half-ounce to a “Sour Cream & Onion” bag in 2013.

“It’s about time,” Dworsky said of PepsiCo’s move. “Chip lovers have suffered through years of downsizings.”

PepsiCo is the largest manufacturer of salty snacks in the United States, and its competitors are likely to follow its lead with increased sizes of their own, Robert Moskow, an analyst at TD Cowen, told CNN.

Higher prices, lower sales

PepsiCo is making these changes because consumers, strained by a run-up in inflation, have been buying fewer snacks. When they do, they often switch from pricier big brands like Tostitos to Walmart, Costco and other retailers’ private-label brands.

During the third quarter of 2024, snack sales declined 0.5% from the same period a year ago, and retail snack volumes declined by 1.1%, according to research by Bank of America analysts.

PepsiCo’s snack sales dropped 1% last quarter and its snack volumes dropped 1.5%.

Snack prices have gone up more rapidly than other store items.

The price per ounce of salty snacks has increased 36% compared to 2020, outpacing a 21% increase in overall grocery store prices, Moskow said.

The average price of 16-ounce potato chips in September was $6.46. In September 2020, the average price was $5.02, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Consumers and lawmakers in recent years have also protested companies downsizing products while simultaneously raising prices. Everyone from President Joe Biden to the Cookie Monster has complained about shrinkflation.

PepsiCo, General Mills, Mondelez and other snack giants have ramped up promotions to try to win back customers, but the promotions have been ineffective, according to Bank of America.

Other companies are also trying to respond to consumers’ frustration with shrinkflation.

Domino’s last month offered a limited-time deal called “Moreflation.” Online customers who ordered two or more medium two-topping pizzas could upgrade one of their pizzas to a large for free.

“Consumers are getting fed up of actually seeing a smaller portion for the same price,” Domino’s finance chief Sandeep Reddy said on an earnings call last month.

[Direckshun]

And they say democracy is dead.

[loochy]

Shrinkflation is probably a good thing with junk foods like this. We don't need that shit.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by loochy

Shrinkflation is probably a good thing with junk foods like this. We don't need that shit.

This man hates chips.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Mecca

This man hates chips.

No, I love chips too much and that's why I say this. If there's a bag of chips I'll end up eating the whole damn thing. It's not a problem for me to not buy it at the store, but if it's in the cupboard then it's gone in one sitting.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by loochy

No, I love chips too much and that's why I say this. If there's a bag of chips I'll end up eating the whole damn thing. It's not a problem for me to not buy it at the store, but if it's in the cupboard then it's gone in one sitting.

Chips are just so easy to smash. It’s insane. You sit down with a bag, next thing you know the entire thing is gone, you’ve eaten 1,600 calories, you're still hungry and you feel terrible.

I just don’t even buy them. Not worth it.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Chips are just so easy to smash. It’s insane. You sit down with a bag, next thing you know the entire thing is gone, you’ve eaten 1,600 calories, you're still hungry and you feel terrible.

I just don’t even buy them. Not worth it.

Dots pretzels are my new devil.

[notorious]

The product inside the package is the cheapest component.

Ads, freight, packaging dwarf it in comparison. Thats why shrinkflation pisses me off.

[BlackHelicopters]

‘Murica

[UteChief]

I stopped buying the items I noticed had shrinkflation. Anything to save a $1.

[Hammock Parties]

Now they need to do fritos.

The ratio of a bag o fritos to a jar of bean dip is way off.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Now they need to do fritos.

The ratio of a bag o fritos to a jar of bean dip is way off.

Gross!

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Gross!

There's nothing better after mowing the yard than a nice bag of regular fritos, some hot bean dip and an ice cold Modelo mango chile chelada.

I may be Missouri trash but there's a lotta Texas in this boy.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

There's nothing better after mowing the yard than a nice bag of regular fritos, some hot bean dip and an ice cold Modelo mango chile chelada.

I may be Missouri trash but there's a lotta Texas in this boy.

Bro that makes me wanna vomit.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

There's nothing better after mowing the yard than a nice bag of regular fritos, some hot bean dip and an ice cold Modelo mango chile chelada.

I may be Missouri trash but there's a lotta Texas in this boy.

Modelo mango Chelada is legit.

I had no idea you have good taste in anything.