Part 1 of 3 - Where did all the Ice Cream go? Who ate all the Cereal?

Have you noticed that a box of Ice Cream just doesn’t last as long as it used too? Or how about that box of cereal that used to last a week and now is gone in days. You’re not going crazy. With material and fuel costs sky rocketing in last few year marketers and purchasers have been desperately trying to find ways to get more bang for the buck. Since it’s well know that customers don’t like price increase researchers tried shrinking the package a bit and keeping the price the same. A 1.75quart of ice cream was reduced to 1.5 quarts, a 32 ounce tub of butter went down to 30 ounces, 48 ounces down to 45 and so on and so on. Some have said that this is an unfair practice. Other have argued that after years of super sizing everything it was finally time for companies to come back to reality. For years marketers and purchasers have struggled with matching their competitor’s new supersized promotions. 20% more than before, Free 40 oz soda with purchase, buy one get one free. One started to wonder when the day would come that a fast food meal would come with a free 2 liter cup of soda. Hold the Ice. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< So as marketers how can we use this to our advantage. More on this in part 2......