Aldi’s once-controversial Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake has had a makeover and has returned to shelves after more than a year, following a legal battle with Marks and Spencer. And I was one of the first in line to buy it when he went back on sale.
The chocolate caterpillar went back on sale today, June 6, after announcing the return on social media over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend. Aldi planted huge vans outside M&S stores across the UK with a photo of the caterpillar, reading “#CuthBack” and “Definitely not in M&S from 06/06/22.”
The vans have been spotted outside M&S stores in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham Newcastle and London.
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For those unfamiliar with the lawsuit, M&S launched a lawsuit in April 2021 calling for Cuthbert to be removed from shelves, and for Aldi not to sell any products resembling the much-loved bug in future.
The rival supermarkets were able to resolve their issues in a ‘confidential deal’ in February 2022, with the budget German retailer taking to Twitter to say Cuthbert was “getting out early on good behaviour”.
And today, Cuthbert the Caterpillar is back in Aldi’ s baked goods aisle, and is the cheapest supermarket caterpillar cake on the market at £4.99, cheaper than M&S’s Colin at £8, and still less expensive than Wiggles, Cecil, Charlie, Calli, Curly, Clyde and Morris at other supermarkets.
Cuthbert the Caterpillar is a layered buttercream chocolate cake and comes in a green box adorned with butterflies and flowers. The caterpillar’s face is made with white chocolate with milk chocolate eyes and a fresh new bow tie. And similar to Colin, the cake also sees a selection of colourful chocolate confectionery along its back, with white chocolate trainers.
The vegetarian friendly cake weighs in at 625 grams, and serves up to 12 party guests, while rival Colin weighs the same, but is said to serve 10. I guess it all depends on how you serve it, seeing as I managed to cut one into 40.
Cuthbert’s comeback is also being marked with a ‘coming out’ party on twitter this afternoon. Aldi said: “Cuthbert is back in store with a fresh new (totally legal) look. Get him while you can #Cuthback.”
Another tweet from the supermarket added: “Wiggles, Cecil, Charlie, Calli, Curly, Clyde, Morris and Colin. What you doing later? Fancy coming to Cuthbert’s Release Party? @asda @sainsburys @Tesco @coopuk @waitrose @marksandspencer #CuthBack.”
Sainsbury’s responded: “The dancing shoes are on and Wiggles will be wiggling into the #CuthBack release party.”
Krispy Kreme also tweeted: “Thanks for the invite @AldiUK Wouldn't miss it.” complete with a photo of a staff member wearing a Cuthbert the Caterpillar mask and holding a cake.
Fans of the cake have been joining in the fun on Twitter, Paul Morgan poking fun at M&S, commenting: “This is not just any Caterpillar cake launch……. It’s THE Aldi Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake launch #cuthback.”
Heading into Aldi this morning, the baked goods aisle was fairly quiet, but there, on the bottom shelf, was Cuthbert nestled between some mini muffins and a madeira cake. There were just eight cakes on the shelf, so I quickly scooped one up in case I had to grapple with any other shoppers - though I couldn’t see anyone else with one in their basket.
I paid my £4.99 and came home smug in the knowledge that Cuthbert is back, and I’ll be eating chocolate cake after lunch for a week. Though I can’t help but think a launch ahead of the Jubilee weekend would have seen the caterpillar cake be a complete sell out for his return.
Either way, I can confirm that Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake is just as delicious as he was before he was scrapped from shelves last April. Welcome back, Cuth.
Aldi is running a Twitter party to celebrate “the release of Cuthbert” from 12pm today. We expect to see its return online too in the coming weeks.
