EP 727 Shrinkflation and Other Supermarket Trends From the Supermarket Guru

Phil Lempert, aka The Supermarket Guru, knows his way around a supermarket and has been imparting great advice to consumers on trends in these important confines for more than 25 years as an astute analyst of consumer behavior, marketing trends, new products and the changing retail landscape. Perhaps you’ve seen him on NBC’s ‘Today Show’ regularly reporting on new products.  Our conversation starts off discussing a trend that has given consumers a look of consternation of late.  That being the practice of ‘shrinkflation.’ It is characterized by a reduction in weight or volume without a corresponding decrease in price.  The phenomenon evidences itself in everything from breakfast cereals to paper towels to Greek yogurt.  A 2023 YouGov study found that nearly three-quarters of American consumers are concerned about shrinkflation.  After we pursue this topic with Phil, we move on to a number of other topics involved in today’s grocery shopping experience.  He’s a delight and a fount of knowledge.

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