How's tricks? These days, new versions of existing grocery products typically cost more -- because the amount in the package is slightly smaller. That is the deal with Yoplait's new Splitz -- two-layered little tubs of low-fat yogurt. The four-pack of newly shrunk 3.25-ounce tublets is $2.49 at one store.
The easiest direct comparison is with Yoplait's Trix yogurt, which has similar aimed-at-kids flavors, but comes in six-packs of 4-ounce tubs, selling for $2.99 at the same store. Tub-for-tub (ignoring the fact that the Splitz tub is smaller), a Trix tub costs 50 cents, a Splitz tub costs 62 cents -- 25 percent more. Now throw in the size of each serving: A tub of Trix contains 4 ounces, so it's 12.5 cents an ounce, and a tub of Splitz contains 3.25 ounces, so it's 19 cents an ounce -- 52 percent more per ounce.
Silly rabbit!
Crunch up! Same story with Nabisco's new Wheat Thins Crunch Stix. The 8-ounce box of Crunch Stix is the same price as the 10-ounce box of regular Wheat Thins crackers, so the Crunch Stix cost 25 percent more per ounce. In fairness, Mr. Tidbit would say the rod-shaped Crunch Stix are crunchier than the regular crackers.
Fiber two-thirds Likewise, but somewhat more amusing to Mr. Tidbit (who must take his amusement where he finds it), the latest entry in the Fiber One department is Fiber One 90-calorie chewy bars. Yes, there already are six flavors of Fiber One chewy bars, but they contain 130 to 150 calories each. They do, however, each offer 35 percent of the daily value of fiber, which presumably is the reason to buy a Fiber One bar; the 90-calorie bars each contain just 20 percent.
Oh, and the 90-calorie bars are lots smaller: The box of five totals 4.1 ounces; the box of five regular Fiber One bars is 7 ounces. They sell for the same price, so the new ones cost 71 percent more per ounce.
Want a cheaper 90-calorie bar? Eat two-thirds of a regular one (and pair up those leftover thirds as more bars).
AL SICHERMAN
