Sad news, friends. My favorite type of granola bars – Sunbelt – have made some changes. For the worse. They’ve made them quite a bit smaller. This was one of the reasons that they were better than some other brands (i.e. Quaker); they were substantially larger which made them a sufficient snack.
Also note the new “fancy” logo trying to look a bit more organic and coming from the “Bakery”.
If you look at Sunbelt’s Facebook page, you will find a wealth of individiuals who appear to be very displeased about the changes made to the size of the individual bars. Sunbelt responded to almost every single complaint that I saw, though they had only a “canned” response that they stuck with for nearly every response:
Sunbelt Bakery We really appreciate your valuable feedback, Dean. You’re correct – the size change in our bars was based on consumer feedback saying that our bars were too high in calories. We chose to reduce the calorie count of our bars to between 110-150. Since our bars changed size, we added two additional bars per multi-pack to remain a good value.
We hope our same great bakery-fresh taste and the fact that we are delivered to your community weekly continues to set us apart. We try to maintain the best value on the market by providing our loyal customers with a no-preservative snack for any time of the day.
If you would like to speak with someone in customer service, feel free to reach out to us here: http://sunbeltbakery.com/www/docs/6.
trokspot 
Buddy
October 24, 2012 at 11:53 PM
It looks like you get more overall grams with the change. Just eat a little more than 2 and save the remaining of the 3rd. Anyways, did they raise the price?
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Buddy
October 24, 2012 at 11:54 PM
Per box that is.
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trokspot
October 25, 2012 at 3:12 PM
I guess maybe the percentages would have been helpful:
Increase in weight of box (9.9 –> 10.5) = 6% increase
Increase in price (2.00 –> 2.25) = 12.5% increase
Decrease in size/bar (35g –> 30g) = 14% decrease
Decrease in calories/bar (160 –> 140) = 12.5% decrease
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Jeff
October 25, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Decrease in price per bar (.25–>.225) = 10% decrease
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trokspot
October 24, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Yes, you get slightly more per box ~ 10.5oz now, before ~9.9oz. The price has gone up (I think $.25 but not positive).
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Sunbelt
October 25, 2012 at 10:03 AM
We really appreciate your annoying feedback, Trokspot. You’re correct – the size change in our bars was based on fat consumer feedback saying that our bars made them too fat. We chose to reduce the calorie count of our bars to between 110-150. Since our bars changed size, we added two additional bars per multi-pack to remain a good value. You’re also getting more ounces per box, so put a lid on your whining and keep buying.
We hope our same great bakery-fresh taste and mass produced attitude, and the fact that we are delivered to your craphole community weekly continues to set us apart. We try to maintain the best value on the market by providing our fat customers with a no-preservative snack for any time of the day, and by watching our bottom line so that our division isn’t canceled by those corporate scumbags.
If you would like to speak with someone in customer service, feel free to keep on dreaming.
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trokspot
October 25, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Dear Sunbelt,
You were so much more polite on Facebook. That response just seems unwarranted.
Warmly,
Trokspot
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Jeff
October 25, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Trok, c’mon the difference equates to a teaspoon per bar. A teaspoon! Or, the weight of a nickel! It’s got to be mental, right? I noticed the difference in bars, mainly now they taste a little better (could also be mental; I like both versions), but now you’re claiming they are “negligible” as snacks? It’s less than a 15% decrease per bar!
But, Aldi sells imitation Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut bars for like less than $2 a box. Maybe give those a try.
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trokspot
October 25, 2012 at 3:25 PM
You’re right – it does seem small, but I notice. I think that for me it generally ends up being a 1 bite difference per bar (yeah, maybe it’s a little mental I guess…but it is a bite! haha). Another thing I think that might add to the mental aspect is the shape – they used to be a little flatter and wider; now they are skinnier and slightly thicker. It reminds me of the Quaker kind, which I have never been impressed with.
I have been getting the Aldi knock-offs of the sweet and salty…they’re good. I’ve been splitting 50/50 with those and the Sunbelts still. I think it’s $1.69 for a box of 6 bars of those. Not a bad deal; I think that the peanuts in those help make them a little more filling.
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Mom
October 26, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Your dad and jackie like the cheerio and cinnamon toast crunch cereal bars….somewhat healthy…filling and @40 cents a bar…..i like the special k bars and only 90 calories…..there are quite a few new products out in the breakfast aisle and many of the generics are good…..
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trokspot
October 26, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Thanks! I’m not always a big fan of the cereal bars (maybe I’m a little too picky), though some are pretty good. The sunbelt bars are still a pretty decent deal price-wise, I’m just a little annoyed that they changed an already good thing to a less good thing (in my opinion).
Maybe I will take another gander through the breakfast aisle to see if anything catches my eye…and of course, I would only buy the generic versions (I have you to thank for that!).
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sara
December 8, 2012 at 2:52 PM
i agree special k..they have a big multipack (no idea $) with strawberry blueberry and vanilla…super good
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trokspot
December 9, 2012 at 9:47 PM
I’ve had those – they’re alright. If they’re around I’ll eat them and I do think they have good flavor. But it’s kind of the same problem – they don’t really fill me up.
I’ve still been buying the sunbelts for the most part, but I just have to eat 2-3 per afternoon instead of 1-2.
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ty
March 14, 2015 at 10:15 PM
According to the number the decrease does not seem like much but the appearance really get me. I remember my mom buying these for me when I was young and I loved em. Now I buy some to take to work and they fit in the palm of my hand. I guess it could just be the nostalgia or the fact that I’m 27 and not 12 haha I definitely don’t like them as much tho
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josh
July 9, 2015 at 10:22 PM
I have been eating sunbelt granola bars for over 15 years, they haven’t changed much that I can tell, except the size, and I have an idea, just in case one of them sunbelt bakery people are reading this, hear it is.
If so many people want a skimpy little granola bar make them to but how about going back to making them large again for people that work and need to eat. (Not that hard to figure out )
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Sylvan
June 3, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Used to be a favorite, now they are just another Quaker wannabe, and Quaker has always sucked. The change in size is about more than calories, the new bar is drier, mealier, and has less flavor. Another company that tries to be somebody they’re not, while appealing to customers that respond to surveys but don’t actually care for the product. Portion size zombies don’t like to realize that their healthy alternative is a candy bar, and associate a painful eating experience with health. My family still buys them from time to time. Like a child I’ll start one and spit it out, it’s just such a grotesque tactile experience. Quaker always seemed like the worst option, and increasingly in the field of granola bars their impersonators are all that is left.
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