1991 Mars Bar Discovery Sparks 'Shrinkflation' Debate

What Happened

A Mars bar dating back to 1991 was discovered during a house clearance in Scunthorpe. Cleaner Victoria Gordon found the vintage chocolate bar, which weighed 62.5g. This is notably larger than the current standard Mars bar, which weighs 40g. Gordon posted a comparison image online, which gained significant attention and sparked conversations about "shrinkflation," the phenomenon where product sizes decrease while prices remain stable or increase.

Gordon described the 1991 bar as being nearly the length of her hand, a stark contrast to contemporary bars. She initially almost discarded the old chocolate but noticed its substantial size. The find occurred while she was clearing out a hoarder's house filled with items from decades prior.

Manufacturer Response

A spokesperson for Mars, Incorporated, the manufacturer of Mars bars, commented that the company has made several adjustments to bar sizes and packaging formats over the past 35 years. These changes were reportedly made to align with consumer demand and to account for external factors such as manufacturing costs and cocoa prices.

Key Facts

• A Mars bar from 1991 weighing 62.5g was discovered in Scunthorpe.
• The modern equivalent Mars bar weighs 40g.
• The 1991 bar cost between 25p and 30p, while a current bar costs £1.20.
• Victoria Gordon, a cleaner, found the old Mars bar during a house clearance on August 5.
• Mars, Incorporated stated that bar sizes have been updated over the last 35 years due to consumer demand and external factors.