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Maltesers, M&Ms and Minstrels are changing – and it’s bad news for British chocolate lovers

Chocolate manufacturers shrink size of a number of favourites by up to 15 per cent, but keep prices the same

chocolate

CONFECTIONERY giant Mars has confirmed it is shrinking the pack size of favourite chocolate treats including Maltesers, M&Ms and Minstrels by up to 15 per cent – while keeping prices the same.

It is the second time in a year that Mars has moved to reduce the number of Maltesers in its sharing bags, which now weigh in at just 93g. Last year, the same pack shrunk from 121g to 103g.

 Bad news for chocolate fans ... treats, including Maltesers, are getting smaller while prices are unchanged
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Bad news for chocolate fans ... treats, including Maltesers, are getting smaller while prices are unchangedCredit: Press Association Archive

And now it’s also affecting other popular products made by the chocolate firm, with the company shrinking M&Ms and Minstrels by up to 15 per cent, .

Family packs of M&Ms are now 25g lighter at just 140g, while bags of Minstrels are almost 10 per cent lighter, but cost exactly the same amount.

Speaking on the change, Mars told the Guardian: “We have been absorbing rising raw material and operational costs for some time, but the growing pressures mean that we can’t keep things as they are.

 Less to share ... bags of Minstrels are now almost 10 per cent lighter
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Less to share ... bags of Minstrels are now almost 10 per cent lighterCredit: handout

"Reducing the size of our products is not a decision that we take easily.”

Supermarket analyst Steve Dresser told the Guardian manufacturers such as Mars are shrinking packs to keep profit margins in a bid to hit the keen price points needed for popular supermarket promotions.

He commented: “Manufacturers are trying to protect their profit margins but it seems excessive to move a pack size down twice inside a year.”

 Family packs of M&Ms have also been hit by the change, and are 25g lighter
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Family packs of M&Ms have also been hit by the change, and are 25g lighterCredit: PR Company


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