A 48.39% price increase hidden in a chocolate bar.
That is what Mondelez did to Milka in Germany. They made the bar 1mm thinner, dropped the weight from 100g to 90g, and raised the retail price.
The Bremen court just ruled this is illegal. They called it a "relative deceptive package." Mondelez blamed cocoa costs.
Look at Austria. In April, they passed a law forcing big supermarkets to put warning signs on shelves for shrinkflation. Even Ritter Sport is under fire now for cutting their bars to 75g.
My advice for brands and retailers:
If you shrink the product, shrink the box. Keeping the same package size is a legal trap now.
Be honest. Some brands write "less content, same quality" on the pack and actually win trust.
Retailers: get ready for tighter laws. Don't let brands ruin your relationship with shoppers.