What Can a Bottle of Heinz Tell Us About Inflation?

But what can a bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup tell us about inflation?

The price of a bottle of this chip-pairing sauce has increased by 53% between 2020 and 2022 - about 93p - according to Which. If we assume that five everyday items - eggs (£2.55), milk (£1.65), sugar (£1.19), tea bags (£2.20), and butter (£2.15) - all via Asda increase at that same margin, you soon find yourself adding an extra five or more pounds to your shopping list. Imagine the average person purchases around a hundred items per trip, give or take, that extra five pounds per five items can surmount to an extra hundred pounds. 

But, surely brands are benefitting from this? 

Brands that have a strong rate of customer loyalty are able to reap the benefits of inflation, as supermarket chain Tesco discovered in 2022. After a dispute regarding the increasing price of Heinz condiments during a Cost of Living Crisis, the companies parted ways and Tesco pulled all Heinz products from their shelves, but this isn’t the first time Heinz have been in hot water. In a similar circumstance in 1973, Heinz and McDonalds split over a tomato shortage led Heinz to up prices for their associated fast food chains, and prioritise their grocery shoppers. 

Again, we began 2022 with a lighthearted stab at the ludicrous price increase of Lurpak. The spread now costs £5.00 for a 750g pack, and £4.00 for 500g - although this was on sale from £5.00, via Asda. 

It is stark price increases like this and a general lack of social spatial awareness that makes it all the more important to shop local, and shop small during these times. When you buy your produce from local farmers and smaller businesses, you are putting food directly onto a family’s table, just as they are yours. While we may all be in this crisis together, we are not all experiencing this crisis equally - I promise, Heinz is not.