Abstract
Discretionary food package sizes are an important environmental cue that can affect the amount of food consumed. The aim of this study was to determine sales trends and reported food industry perspectives for changing food package sizes of carbonates and confectionery between 2005 and 2019. Changes in package sizes of carbonates and confectionery were investigated in Australia, the USA, Canada, and the UK. Sales data (units per capita and compound annual growth rate between 2005 and 2019) were extracted from the Euromonitor database. Qualitative data (market research reports) on industry perspectives on package size changes were extracted from industry and marketing databases. Carbonate sales data showed increased growth of smaller package sizes (<300 mL) and a decrease in sales of larger package sizes (≥2000 mL) in all four countries. In contrast, confectionery sales data showed no consistent trends across the selected countries. No growth was observed for smaller confectionery package sizes but an increase in growth of larger package sizes (50–99 g, >100 g), including share packages, was observed in Australia. Qualitative data (n = 92 articles) revealed key reasons identified by industry for changes in package size related to consumer health awareness, portion size control, convenience, market growth, and government or industry initiatives. Monitoring of discretionary food package sizes provides additional insights into consumers’ food environment.
Highlights
Over the past 30 years, portion sizes of many foods and beverages have increased, in particular nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods [1,2]
Sales Trends According to Package Size: Carbonates and Confectionery
Total per capita unit sales of carbonates were highest in the United States of America (USA), followed by Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdome (UK), between 2005 and 2019 (Figure 1), with the most popular package size being 300–399 mL in these countries
Summary
Over the past 30 years, portion sizes of many foods and beverages have increased, in particular nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods [1,2]. People consistently consume more food when offered larger sized portions, packages, or dishware (tableware) than when offered smaller-sized versions [3]. This ‘portion size effect’ has been observed in children and adults, males and females, and across those with different body weights, levels of dietary restraint, and susceptibility to hunger [3]. Few studies have been conducted that examine the response of the food industry to the package sizes of discretionary foods
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