PZ Cussons cuts soap size

The size of a bar of Imperial Leather soap is set to shrink by a fifth to 100g as its manufacturer opts to reduce the product rather than raise the price.

PZ Cussons is facing steep rises in the cost of raw materials such as palm oil at a time when cash-strapped consumers are resistant to price rises and the market for toiletries is dominated by special offers.

Cussons, which has no plans to shrink any other products, has put prices up by an average of 7 per cent over the past year. But it has not yet pushed through all of the higher costs of its raw materials, and hopes to raise prices by another 2 per cent this year.