CUSTOMERS have caught wind of a cheeky move by Heinz — after it cut the number of baked beans and upped the sauce.
For the first time, half the tinned contents are now liquid while the price has risen.
Dan Jones ImagesHeinz has cut the number of baked beans and upped the sauce[/caption]
The 415g cans went from 51 per cent beans to 50 per cent this year. It means about a 4g reduction in beans — or an estimated ten fewer — in a tin
Meanwhile, the price has gone from £1 to £1.40 in the past year.
Heinz sells up to two and a half million tins of beans a day.
Expert Andrew Busby, of Retail Reflections, said: “The reduction may appear to be marginal but that’s to miss the point.
“When up to 2.5million cans a day are involved, for Heinz this suddenly becomes more than a little significant.”
Retail analyst Sophie Lund-Yates, of Hargreaves Lansdown, added: “Upping the sauce content feels like an obvious way to upset customers.
“Most of us prefer less sauce.
“It’s not uncommon for recipes to be tinkered with but it’s not a change Heinz seems to be shouting about.”
A Kraft Heinz spokeswoman claimed it was three fewer beans in a can.
She said it was down to this year’s crop of beans having less moisture in them, then swelling more when cooked.
She added: “It’s simply nature at play and could change again next year.”