A woman picked up her Five Guys order and opened the bag, instantly realizing something was different about the fries. She sparked debate in a viral video about what the change in the chain’s fry container means for the economy.
In a video with over 844,000 views, TikToker Indy Cree (@indy.cree) holds up a small brown bag of fries from Five Guys. While there’s nothing wrong with the fries at first glance, Cree points out a significant change.
On-screen text reads, “What to know how bad the economy is doing…Five Guys using fry bags now.”
Did Five Guys Get Rid of Its Fry Cups?
Five Guys was previously known for overfilling white cups with fries. Now, it seems like the fast-food chain has switched to paper bags.
According to an Instagram post by Five Guys, the change shouldn’t impact how many fries customers can expect. It writes, “We’re still using the same fresh-cut potatoes and generous portions, but this new packaging helps fries hold their texture.”
Some customers have complained of workers not filling up the bags, despite there being room for the same portion, according to an article by Parade.
On the r/fiveguys subreddit, customers and workers reacted to the change. One worker even posted a side-by-side of the old small cup with the new bags for size.
“I do not like this at all. Not because I think that I’m getting more or fewer fries, but because it’s part of the goddamn identity of the brand,” one commenter on the forum said.
Another said they believe the bags do impact the portion size. They wrote, “Maybe the bag holds more, but went to Five Guys last night and they didn’t do a fry dump in the bag like they always do. Was significantly less than they used to give.”
Five Guys is famous for providing an abundance of fries. Workers are trained to overfill the cups to the point that fries are found throughout the brown bag that the entire order is placed in. “Providing an extra scoop of fries has been a tradition at Five Guys since we opened our doors in 1986,” the company notes on its site.
In an email to BroBible, a Five Guys spokesperson assures customers that the extra scoops “are absolutely not going away.”
“Also, this smarter packaging is part of our larger commitment to the environment,” they write. “The bags are made from biodegradable natural kraft paper. They are food-grade, grease-proof, BPA- and PFAS-free, and FDA-approved.”
Does The Switch Suggest Changes To The Economy?
Five Guys isn’t the only brand under fire for seemingly shrinking portions. Others, like Raising Canes, Longhorn Steakhouse, and Cheesecake Factory, have also been called out for reducing the size of their products.
The strategy, called shrinkflation, allows brands to keep their prices the same while lowering the total cost to keep up with inflation. According to Trading Economics, the United States currently sits at around a 2.4% inflation rate.
In the comments of Cree’s viral video, commenters debated whether the packaging change actually points to an economic downturn.
“No, that’s corporate greed,” a viewer remarked.
Another joked, “If 5 guys is still in business the economy isn’t as bad as it’s going to get.”
Some suggested the change could impact Five Guy’s sales.
“The point of half the bag of fries was because they already knew their burgers were stupid expensive. Now there’s no point in going,” a commenter wrote.
“Lol now I’m definitely never going back. $30 a burger and they’re pulling ts,” a second saif.
“Literally the only thing that was justifying the price of the meal the extra fries in the bag. Wtffffffff,” another added.
Cree tells BroBible in an email that she and her husband have gone to Five Guys “for years” and hopes the brand will reconsider the change.
“There was fries at the bottom of the bag but there was a dramatic difference in what we are use to. We would love the cups back,” she writes.
@indy.cree Say it ain’t so Lord 😩🥹. #fiveguysburgersandfries #foodie #economics
BroBible reached out to Cree via email and TikTok direct message and to Five Guys via email for further comment. We will update the story when they reply.