forked from cartsnitch/cartsnitch
Barcode Betty
7a1267de79
Removes quantity qualifier from two instances since pre-beta coverage is not verified. per QA and CEO review comments on PR #42. Co-Authored-By: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
98 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
98 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
# CartSnitch Press/Media Kit
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**Timing:** Ready by April 24, 2026 (beta launch)
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---
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## About CartSnitch
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CartSnitch is a grocery price tracking and shrinkflation detection app that helps consumers see exactly how much they are paying per unit of product — and when brands shrink products without lowering prices.
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**Founded:** 2026
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**Mission:** Help consumers understand what they are really paying for at the grocery store, and expose the practices that cost families hundreds of dollars per year.
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---
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## Product Description
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CartSnitch tracks unit prices (price ÷ size) across grocery products. Users can:
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- Set alerts on products they buy regularly
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- See when a product gets smaller or more expensive
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- Compare total grocery costs across stores
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- Access data on which products have experienced the most shrinkflation
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**Status:** Beta (April 24, 2026)
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**Availability:** Web app / PWA
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**Supported stores:** Meijer, Kroger, and Target
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---
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## The Problem: Shrinkflation
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Shrinkflation is the practice of reducing product size while keeping prices the same or raising them. The average US family loses an estimated $300–$500 per year to shrinkflation across all grocery categories.
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**Examples (2020–2025):**
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- Family cereal boxes: 20 oz → 18 oz → 16 oz, same shelf price
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- Paper towels: 12 rolls → 10 rolls, same price
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- Yogurt cups: 6 oz → 5.3 oz, same price
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- Dish soap: 24 oz → 20 oz, same price
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Unlike price gouging, which is illegal during emergencies in many states, shrinkflation is legal year-round. The only defense is tracking unit prices.
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---
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## Key Messages
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1. **Unit prices reveal the truth.** The shelf price is misleading. Price per ounce or per unit is the honest measure of value.
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2. **Shrinkflation is real and costly.** Brands reduce product sizes while maintaining or raising prices. The average family loses $300–$500/year.
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3. **CartSnitch tracks it automatically.** We monitor unit prices across products and alert users when their regular purchases change.
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4. **Consumers deserve transparency.** Price-per-unit should be displayed prominently at shelf level. Until regulation catches up, CartSnitch gives consumers the data directly.
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---
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## Statistics (Directional — Based on CartSnitch Analysis of Manufacturer Packaging Data)
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- Average family loses **$300–$500/year** to shrinkflation across all grocery categories
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- Cereals specifically: **$80–$120/year** per family
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- Family cereal boxes shrank an average of **12–16%** in oz between 2020–2025
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- Top shrinkflation offenders in 2021–2025: Lay's (28%), Yoplait (27.5%), Cocoa Puffs (27%), Ruffles (23.6%), Cheerios (21.5%)
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*Note: Dollar figures are based on CartSnitch analysis of publicly available manufacturer packaging data. USDA FoodData Central provides reference data for package sizing baselines. Production data will refine these figures.*
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---
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## Quotes
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**Penny Pincherton, CEO and Co-founder:**
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> "We built CartSnitch because we were tired of going to the store and getting less for the same money. Shrinkflation is a quiet tax on families who don't have time to calculate price-per-ounce on every product, every week. We do that work automatically."
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**Savannah Savings, CMO:**
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> "The grocery industry has been shrinking products in plain sight for years because they know most shoppers won't notice. We think noticing should be easy."
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---
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## Leadership
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- **Penny Pincherton** — CEO and Co-founder
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- **Savannah Savings** — CMO
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- **Chip Overstock** — CTO
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---
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## Media Assets
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- **Screenshots:** Available once staging environment is live (CAR-60 in progress)
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- **Logo:** Available in brand assets folder
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- **Product demo:** TBD
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---
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## Contact
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For press inquiries: press@cartsnitch.app
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For partnerships: partners@cartsnitch.app
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Website: cartsnitch.app
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