Every year, supermarkets vie for the attention of viewers with their Christmas advert, and this year Aldi has certainly upped the ante in the battle of the ads with a subtle diss at competitors Marks & Spencer.
Aldi’s highly-anticipated video this year was based around the Charles Dickens festive classic A Christmas Carol, with the introduction of a new character Ebanana Scrooge, in the ad starring footballer Marcus Rashford (or Radishford we should say), and of course fan favourite Kevin the Carrot made an appearance too.
During the ad, Kevin the Carrot tries to get a banana called Ebanana Scrooge into the Christmas spirit by showing him the best things about the holiday.
Will Ebanana Scrooge discover his Christmas spirit?#AldiAmazingChristmas #KevinTheCarrot pic.twitter.com/obT5LpuSiu
— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) November 10, 2021
But at the beginning of the clip, eagle-eyed viewers spotted a familiar figure in a spot of bother.
It was only Cuthbert the Caterpillar being escorted away by two lemon policemen (“peelers”) while in handcuffs.
Giving a cheeky nod to events in real life earlier this year, in which the Aldi version of a caterpillar cake was at centre of a legal battle when Marks and Spencer accused Aldi of ripping off their Colin the Caterpillar cake.
Ever since then the two supermarkets have been shading each other online with memes referring to the legal challenge.
After publication Ladbible posted about the M&S dig, Aldi’s official Twitter account interestingly replied with eye emojis...
— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) November 11, 2021
Viewers loved the level of pettiness that came with the Cuthbert cameo, especially because it was another shot fired at M&S in the latest twist between the two supermarkets.
(Some have even declared the German supermarket chain the winner in the battle with M&S after this stunt).
THEY DID NOT- https://t.co/PIGhykXWSv
— Hatter (@RibbitItsRiver) November 11, 2021
LOVE this https://t.co/j9O80yOLbs
— Ellie Morgan ☆🪐 (@EllieDigitalPR) November 11, 2021
Christmas won. War with M&S won. Just call it a day. https://t.co/58PeEd7wf3
— Danny (@DKay_99) November 11, 2021
Love this level of petty https://t.co/FqbUeNBc7e
— Sophie (@Sophiepaine93) November 11, 2021
Hands down my fave Christmas ad this year. This cameo was *chef’s kiss*. https://t.co/Mdqu17omZQ
— Mickey (@pickme_mickey) November 11, 2021
Say what you like about @AldiUK their marketing is ELITE https://t.co/rQtnvf7vHZ
— Gaynor Craggs (@CraggsGaynor) November 11, 2021
Meanwhile, others joked about the injustice Cuthbert was facing and called on the caterpillar to be freed.
#freecuthbert https://t.co/iAvlQjqQfh
— David McMaster (@DavMac27) November 11, 2021
Top shithoussery, free cuthbert man 🤣 https://t.co/uhEweXAGbN
— Jawnie Cochran (@jj_samueI) November 11, 2021
Free Cuthbert he aint do anything https://t.co/a6zRjBsJkL
— All Herb (@97tiIlinfinity) November 11, 2021
free cuthbert bro did nothing wrong https://t.co/nk0FrO91F1
— ֆǟɨռȶʐ🪶 (@6aint6) November 11, 2021
Cuthbert in cuffs in the back #FreeCuthbert 💔 https://t.co/mCYpyNdaCU
— Toby/Draper (@drapertoby2021) November 11, 2021
Looks like the supermarket beef continues... wonder what M&S makes of Aldi trolling them?
