Why your fast-food favorites are shrinking

[Hum]

If the idea of inhaling a whole pepperoni pizza or scarfing a Big Mac triggers your guilt, perhaps you?d feel better consuming these items in a series of dainty, smaller bites instead. Pizza Hut (YUM) is now the latest chain to offer sized-down products. On Feb. 4, it added mini pizzas, called Big Pizza Sliders, to its menu?an odd moniker since they are neither big, nor are they sliders in the traditional sense of being small sandwiches. Each pizza measures 3.5 inches across and weighs slightly less than a slice of a large pie.

Pizza Hut isn?t entirely focused on helping diners eat less?sure, you can get a modest order of three, but the sliders also come in boxes of nine. Sizing down does help the chain control costs amid rising commodities prices. ?The cost of sale for this product is better than a large pizza,? says spokesman Doug Terfehr. The sliders, which were tested in 2012, retail for $10 for nine or $5 for three.

Terfehr says, however, that the main consideration behind the sliders is not cost but providing more customization, as customers can choose up to three different combos with up to three toppings each per order (a pie can have different toppings only on each half).

Other chains are offering new mini items. McDonald?s (MCD) this month launched Fish McBites for a limited time, which will also be available in Happy Meals. A regular-size (5.2 oz.) order of Fish McBites costs $3.69, slightly less than a 5-oz. Filet-O-Fish sandwich at $3.99. Burger King (BKW) recently offered molten fudge bites for $1.69. Last July, 7-Eleven (3382) started selling mini tacos at four for $1, driven by ?the ?snacking? trend,? according to company spokesman Scott Drake.

First, calorie-conscious consumers want a greater range of options. Second, as commodities prices rise, sizing down helps companies hit target price points, says Marek.

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[COKid]

Hmm... Pizza Hut sounds good tonight. :)

[tuckeratlarge]

I still don't get the "Big" Mac. It originated in the US and it's tiny. How do you guys put up with it. All your portions are huge and yet Maccys get away with selling a small burger. How?

[remixedcat]

blame yuppies for this...

but pleh fast food sucks anyways... makes my sick....

I mostly go to places like applebee's, olive garden, longhorn, cheddars, etc if I'm out for a bite for a decent price.

[SinghKing]

Hmm... Pizza Hut sounds good tonight. :)

HAHHAHAHA I was thinkin the exact same thing way before I even read this post lol

[Growled Member]

I've noticed a lot of products on the shelves have gotten smaller for the same price. I guess this idea has moved to the fast food industry as well. Everything costs more these days.

[Hum]

^ Probably all goes back to the ever increasing over-population of Earth.

[soniqstylz]

DQ has had a mini blizzard for a couple years now.

[Fish]

the idea of inhaling a whole pepperoni pizza

Do what with it?

Look at any food stuff in your supermarket andyou will find that when it's packaged into smaller pieces it cost more to buy per gram. This is just the fast food outlets squeezing a few more pennies out of their customers.

[Growled Member]

^ Probably all goes back to the ever increasing over-population of Earth.

I thought maybe it was more about corporate greed.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

They are making every item smaller except the price. It goes up.

[compl3x]

I was hoping to read: Govt. no longer in bed with lobby groups, kicks subsidies to the curb.

Just seems like a way to provide less product for a higher price.

[hagjohn]

They are down sizing to try to save money from either the smaller portions (less shipping and storage costs) and by introducing food which can be made cheaper that what they currently are serving... in the guise that we want to eat cheaper. Doubt the prices will go down much.