Arnott's Shapes

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}

{{Short description|Brand of savoury biscuits}}

{{Infobox brand

| logo =

| name = Arnotts Shapes

| image = Arnott's Shapes (barbecue flavour).jpg

| caption = Barbecue-flavoured Shapes

| type = Snack food

| currentowner = Arnott's Biscuits Holdings

| origin = Australia

| introduced = {{start_date and age|16 February 1954}}

| discontinued =

| related =

| markets = Australia
New Zealand

| previousowners =Brockhoff Biscuits

| trademarkregistrations =

| tagline = Flavour You Can See

| website = http://www.arnotts.com.au/products/shapes/

}}

Arnott's Shapes are a popular line of savoury biscuits produced by Arnott's in Australia and New Zealand.{{cite book | title=Business Review Weekly | publisher=Business Review Weekly | issue=v. 18, nos. 34-42 | year=1996 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=46aZAAAAIAAJ | access-date=October 6, 2017 | page=89}} Over 53 million packets of Shapes are consumed each year in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.arnotts.com.au/our-products/products/arnotts-shapes.aspx|title=Arnotts.com.au - Shapes|publisher=Arnott's Biscuits Holdings|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428075702/http://www.arnotts.com.au/our-products/products/arnotts-shapes.aspx|archivedate=28 April 2013}}

Shapes were first introduced in 1954, in Victoria, by Brockhoff Biscuits.{{cite web|url=https://www.arnotts.com/shapes-home/|title=Shapes Home|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724050440/https://www.arnotts.com/shapes-home/|archivedate=24 July 2019|publisher=Arnotts}}{{Cite web|last=Duncan|first=Jamie|date=2020-06-18|title=The biscuit bunfight prompted when a big-name US baker came to Melbourne|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/the-biscuit-bunfight-prompted-when-a-bigname-us-baker-came-to-melbourne/news-story/d8ef0bfa5c0fc359ff98cd2b156a4e57|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Herald Sun|language=en-AU}} Savoury was the first flavour, followed soon by Barbecue, Chicken Crimpy, and Onion.{{Cite web|last=Duncan|first=Jamie|date=2020-06-18|title=The biscuit bunfight prompted when a big-name US baker came to Melbourne|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/the-biscuit-bunfight-prompted-when-a-bigname-us-baker-came-to-melbourne/news-story/d8ef0bfa5c0fc359ff98cd2b156a4e57|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Herald Sun|language=en-AU}}

Shapes were originally made in the shape of potato chips, until bakers realised that they were too difficult to cut and were a waste of dough. In 1974, they switched to the flat biscuits that are sold today. The name "Shapes" arises from the variety of biscuit shapes, which correspond to flavour. Arnott's boasts that Shapes are "baked, not fried", which is a less fatty method of cooking; however, Shapes are still high in fat, at 20%–25%, and high in sodium.{{cite web|url=http://foodwatch.com.au/blog/healthy-weight-loss/item/8-salty-snacks-and-why-they-re-a-danger-to-your-waistline-a-visual-guide.html|title=8 salty snacks and why they're a danger to your waistline - a visual guide|first=Catherine|last=Saxelby|work=Catherine Saxelby's Foodwatch|date=29 April 2013}}

Arnott's Shapes are sold in a variety of packaging, including multi-pack bags and boxes. In Australia, during the late 20th century, Arnott's reduced the box packaging size of the core flavours from 250 grams to 200 grams. During 2011, Arnott's further reduced the packaging size from 200 grams to 175–185 grams.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/arnotts-shapes-packets-skrinking-to-slash-fat/story-e6frfkp9-1226111948000 |title=Arnott's Shapes packets shrinking to slash fat |date=10 August 2011 |newspaper=Herald Sun |first=Karen |last=Collier |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301044231/http://www.news.com.au/national/arnotts-shapes-packets-skrinking-to-slash-fat/story-e6frfkp9-1226111948000 |archivedate=1 March 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}

In April 2016, Arnott's altered the Shapes recipe for each of its core flavours, having the flavouring baked into the biscuit rather than as seasoning.{{cite web|url=http://smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/arnotts-shapes-new-and-improved-flavours-leave-customers-furious-20160414-go66ik.html|title=Crunch time for Arnott's after customers Snap over "new and improved" Shape flavours|author=Marissa Calligeros|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 April 2016}} Consumer backlash was sparked over the updated formula, prompting the company to backtrack on their decision. In September, they restored the original Pizza and Barbecue recipes under the "Originals" range, and left the recipe for Chicken Crimpy intact. {{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/arnotts-backflips-on-pizza-shapes/news-story/9c0b71807ff1df15ecc14a27fca02b92|title=Arnott's backflips on Pizza Shapes|author=Frank Chung|publisher=News.com.au|date=8 September 2016}} To date, the pre-2016 recipe for every core flavour has been restored, with the exception of Nacho Cheese and Chicken Drumstick — the latter having been discontinued.

In 2019, Arnott's introduced an "Aussie Legends" range of Shapes, with new flavours based on popular Australian foods. Aussie Legend varieties include: Sausage Sizzle, Meat Pie, and Lamb & Rosemary.{{cite web|url=https://thebrag.com/arnotts-aussie-legends-shapes/|title=How we really feel about Arnott's Aussie Legends Shapes|date=30 September 2021 |publisher=The Brag}}