Nestlé reduces Quality Street tub size to 550g, prompting shopper backlash over 'shrinkflation'

Nestlé has reduced the weight of its popular Quality Street sharing tub from 600g last year to 550g this year, prompting complaints from shoppers who say the move amounts to "shrinkflation" ahead of the Christmas season.

Supermarkets across the UK have already begun stocking festive chocolate ranges, including Quality Street and competing tubs such as Cadbury's Heroes, and some shoppers noticed the smaller Quality Street tubs and reported price increases. The reduction from 600g to 550g represents an approximately 8.3% cut in product weight compared with last year's pack.

Quality Street is known for its assortment of individually wrapped sweets, including The Purple One, the Green Triangle and the Strawberry Delight. Because individual sweets vary in size and weight, it is not possible to say precisely how many pieces shoppers will lose from each tub as a result of the change. Retail prices for seasonal confectionery vary by retailer and region, and some customers reported paying more for the smaller tubs.

Manufacturers have pointed to rising production and ingredient costs when explaining changes to pack sizes and pricing. A Nestlé spokesperson said the company routinely changes the Quality Street range from year to year, including formats, sizes, weights and recommended retail prices, and that product lines are adjusted based on a range of factors. The company did not provide a breakdown of how many individual sweets are included in the new 550g format.

The move highlights a broader trend in consumer goods in which companies alter pack sizes and product formulations while keeping or raising prices, a practice commonly referred to as shrinkflation. Retail analysts and consumers have increasingly scrutinised such moves as households face higher costs for groceries and other staples.

Shoppers who expected the traditional 600g tub said they felt "ripped off" by the change, while other household buyers said they noticed seasonal treats appearing on shelves earlier than in previous years. Retailers typically introduce festive ranges in the months leading up to the holidays; manufacturers and supermarkets said stocking decisions reflect consumer demand and commercial planning for peak trading periods.

Nestlé's adjustment to Quality Street's packaging comes as companies across food and beverage sectors manage input-cost pressures, logistical costs and competitive retail environments. The company said it designs its seasonal offers to reflect these commercial factors and consumer preferences, and it continues to market a range of formats for different household needs and price points.