Shrinking Of Products In The Wake Of The Rise In Inflation

Kenyan manufacturers are downsizing their packages and product sizes without lowering prices, as they embrace shrinkflation because of the rise in the cost of production.

Experts mention that shrinkflation is not a new phenomenon as the practice becomes more common during periods of high inflation, as businesses struggle to keep up with rising costs of ingredients, packaging, labour, and transportation.

As ingredients and cost of manufacturing shoot up, this results to two things: smaller sized products or increased prices. Many of these product size changes are subtle for customers to take notice.

This practice thrives in markets where consumers are not weight conscious, easily allowing manufacturers to shrink the sizes of products for instance by changing the shape of their products. The practice is not illegal if manufacturers seek consent from the Kenya Bureau of Standards, (KEBS).

KEBS Managing Director, Bernard Njiraini said that the bureau was on high alert for firms flouting regulations by altering the size of goods without seeking its permission.

“We have intensified the surveillance. Whatever is stated by the manufacturer should be what is provided,” said Mr. Njirani in an interview. Consumer goods such as bread, bar soaps, milk products are some of the worst affected. Mr. Njirani mentioned construction materials especially steel products also affected.

“We have encountered steel products that are noncompliant with dimensions, for example the mass per meter. This is something that we are concerned about,” he said.

Kenya’s inflation rate skyrocketed for the fifth consecutive month in July as food prices shot up. Annual inflation quickened to 8.3 percent from 7.9 percent in June, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported on the back of a jump in the price of essential items like cooking oil, food, fuel and soap, putting pressure on household budgets and demand for goods and services.

Article By Sally Lizwa