In a bold festive stunt, supermarket giant Aldi has created a giant, living sculpture of its famous Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake and cheekily delivered it to the doorstep of rival Marks & Spencer.
A Festive Cake Takes Root
The retail chain has unveiled a spectacular 8ft tall and 12ft long topiary, meticulously shaped to resemble its signature chocolate cake. The green structure has been lavishly decorated for the season, covered in baubles and fairy lights and topped with a Santa hat and festive boots.
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, explained the thinking behind the creation. "Cuthbert is an Aldi icon, so it only felt right we gave him a festive twist," she said. "We swapped chocolate for topiary, baubles and fairy lights to spread the festive cheer."
A Tour of the South Coast
Before settling down, the giant Cuthbert embarked on a Christmas sightseeing tour of Brighton. The eye-catching sculpture was photographed at iconic locations including the pier and the Royal Pavilion, causing a stir among locals and visitors who shared images on social media.
In a playful nod to the long-standing friendly rivalry between the two retailers, the tour included a stop at an M&S store on the south coast, where Cuthbert was delivered to spread some seasonal goodwill to its well-known adversary.
Find Cuthbert in Eastbourne
The topiary has now reached its temporary home. Shoppers can visit the giant Cuthbert at the Aldi store on Pacific Drive in Eastbourne, where it will be on display from 18th to 22nd December.
"We can’t wait for shoppers to come down, grab a photo and get into the Christmas spirit with him," added Ashfield. Meanwhile, the edible version of the celebrity cake, the Cuthbert Cake (£6.99, 625g), remains available in Aldi stores nationwide.
