Danone: pricey yogurt, shrinking packs and shelves that stay stocked

Why Danone fills the shelf while store brands run dry

As one forum user describes it, in the yogurt aisle of supermarkets the Danone display stays almost untouched and the store-brand slot empties out before rush hour. The detail that seals the deal: the Dan Up format has kept shrinking without the price trinc suit, from 750 grams to 600 and then to 550.

How much a Danone yogurt costs compared with store brands

The small numbers tell the story best. Four custard cups from the brand cost around 2 euros — not enough to ruin the week, but repeated over time it quietly turns the basic shopping basket into a luxury. The argument for the price is simple: they taste better. The most common complaint sums it up bluntly — they taste great, but they're really expensive — and that's the crux. On the other side, shoppers with a calculator openly declare themselves bargain hunters: yogurt becomes a staple, and whoever charges less per gram wins.

Dan Up's shrinkflation: from 750 to 550 grams

While the price holds, the container shrinks. Dan Up started at 750 grams, dropped to 600 and now sits at 550. It's the same old trick — same shelf, less product. Hence the question raised in the debate: who still buys this brand? The answer, according to another forum user, is that plenty of people do and the brand is the market leader.

The big pack and the quality argument

It's not all blind loyalty. Some buyers do the math and find it worth it: the packs of eight custard cups, with 50% off the second four-pack, come to just under 3 euros and, they argue, taste considerably better than the store-brand alternative. It's the same calculation behind the foodie comparison: paying more for a superior product is a choice, like buying Iberian ham instead of cold cuts.

From glass jars to console giveaways

There's also an emotional undertone in the thread. There's the memory of the bulging glass jars, of returning empty bottles for a few cents, of a time when recycling meant going back to the store rather than a logo. Today that bond is bought with promotions — some have snagged a handheld console with the brand's yogurts — and, as noted, with a presence in pharmacies that recalls other chemist's products.

Danone, a French brand according to the thread

The debate points out that the brand is no local symbol: it's supposedly French and sells across the continent. That's why flag-waving backlash against it would have little traction, though some argue certain stances have cost it part of the market. The shelf picture described in the thread is one of the expensive product nearly untouched and the cheap one sold out. And the underlying question remains open: if it really tastes that good, why does the budget option also win?