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Good things are coming in smaller packages as household budgets tighten. Aug 1, 2026, 3:09 AM PT Little treats are getting littler. With US shoppers under seemingly never-ending strain, large consumer product companies are finding success in introducing smaller formats that won't break the bank. In earnings reports this week, executives from Coca Cola, Mondelez, Proctor & Gamble, and Hershey acknowledged that consumers were responding to the new price points. Coke CEO Henrique Braun kicked off the discussion Tuesday saying that lower-income customers continue to be pressured, but they are still looking for ways to buy their favorite drinks. "We made it easier for the consumer," he said. "When you go into the convenience store, you have the mini-cans sold as a single at the lowest entry price." Later that day, Mondelez CEO Dirk Van de Put said the company was developing a new pack size and price offering in response to a consumer shift toward value. P&G bucked the trend somewhat Wednesday, saying its customer base skews toward higher earners who prioritize value per dollar over the lowest price. Those shoppers tend to save by buying in bulk, and the company said it is putting its focus on improving products rather than lowering prices to attract new sales. CFO Andre Sultan said consumers who are more impacted by gas prices "continue to look for smaller pack sizes. They continue to be very affected by promotion patterns." Hershey's said Thursday it largely completed a transition to a new set of retail pack sizes - including smaller options - that started last year as cocoa prices were soaring. Earlier in the summer, Boston Beer Company said it was offering new four-packs of its Twisted Tea drink specifically to provide an option below $10. And while companies of all sorts have weathered charges of "shrinkflation" in recent years, these changes are arguably more transparent than quietly putting fewer chips in the same bag at the same price. These brands are creating entirely new packages. "The consumer is most likely getting a poorer value in these smaller pack sizes, but it may make a product that was just simply not affordable into something that someone can now at least buy a smaller size of," analyst Jerry Thomas, CEO of Decision Analyst consulting firm, told Business Insider. At the same time, Thomas said offering smaller portions of sweets and other highly processed foods could present a healthier option than their jumbo-sized counterparts. "It's a good thing in the sense that people have an option that is easy for them to consume less of a product that might not be especially good for them," he said. Either way, it's clear after this week that the shift toward small isn't poised to go away anytime soon. To wit, a recent survey from marketing firm Omnisend found that nearly half of respondents downgraded or cancelled vacation plans this summer due to high costs. Of those more than two thirds said they would use some of that unspent money to get "little treats." So go ahead. Treat yourself.

Chips Ahoy! rolls out 'mystery' cookie. 07.31.2026 EAST HANOVER, NJ. - Mondelez International is launching Chips Ahoy! mystery cookies, an unidentified flavor that the company will reveal on Halloween. Until then, Chips Ahoy! fans can win $25,000 for correctly identifying the flavor. "For Gen Z, snacking and gaming aren't just pastimes, but how they connect, recharge and build community," said Mili Laddha, senior director of marketing at Mondelez International. "With the Chips Ahoy! mystery cookie, we're leveling up the snacking experience to match their energy. We've turned a simple treat into an interactive side quest, blending IRL flavor with the digital culture they live and breathe." Chips Ahoy! mystery cookies are available on the SnackWorks TikTok storefront in limited quantities, the first for the brand. The cookies will be available to pick up in person at US retailers starting Aug. 10. Get better grain-based foods industry search results. Adding Bakingbusiness tells Google to prioritize Bakingbusiness.com stories.

The Reese's brand is celebrating the one-year anniversary of REESE'S OREO with a campaign featuring Lindsay Lohan, Amy Sedaris, and director Patricia Arquette. The collaboration between The Hershey Company and Mondelēz International combines milk chocolate and white creme peanut butter cups with Oreo cookie crumbs. Since launching, the product has generated over $188 million in retail sales, becoming Reese's top innovation for 2025. The anniversary campaign pays tribute to fans who spent years requesting the pairing online before it officially launched. The product has exceeded expectations by attracting new and younger consumers whilst delivering strong engagement and repeat purchases. REESE'S OREO is now a permanent addition to the Reese's portfolio and has become one of the most successful innovations in the candy category over the past decade.