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Original poster

Colin & Cuthbert

116 replies

Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 11:36

I have to admit that I've been loving Aldi's twitter feed the last few days along with all the other companies that have joined in.

But now they have appealed to M & S to raise money for charity not lawyers by donating all profits from a limited edition Cuthbert to two cancer charities, one they are linked with and one M & S are linked with.

It's not putting M & S in a good light to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 11:37

And they are asking all other Caterpillar cake retailers to join with them (including M & S)

OP posts:
Suewiththegreenlights · 20/04/2021 11:39

It’s genius marketing on Aldi’s behalf!

Eachpeachpears · 20/04/2021 11:41

It's a clever tack by aldi, whoever came up with ut will be in their good books. They've turned the narrative from them being the 'bad guys' by 'copying' Colin, to them doing good by donating profits to charity. They know m&s won't match their move so they end up on top.
M&S are being bloody stupid going after aldi and no other supermarket though. Aldi is one of the most popular supermarkets used, by the working class especially. Support has definitely grown for them since all this colin vs cuthbert stuff. It's no coincidence it happened the week lockdown lifted slightly either.

emilyfrost · 20/04/2021 11:42

I think Aldi are the shameful ones here.

They created an exact replica of an M&S product (it’s not like the other supermarkets, which are distinctive) and are now trying to get away with it by forcing M&S into an impossible situation.

Awful, awful retailer.

Hellocatshome · 20/04/2021 11:43

Aldi will not care 1 little bit if M&S end up winning their case against them it has all been excellent marketing for the many if they do have to do away with Cuthbert it wouldn't surprise me if they bought out a Cuthbert the butterfly cake and just say he has grown up.

Original poster
Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 11:43

Aldi's product is not an exact replica. There are lots of differences.

OP posts:
emilyfrost · 20/04/2021 11:45

@Comefromaway

Aldi's product is not an exact replica. There are lots of differences.
Name them.
Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2021 11:47

I was a bit Hmm about the charity thing. But I am not a fan of dry swiss roll with a face, generally.
Have M&S responded yet? I guess Aldi know that anything other than a yes is going to make M&S look crap.

Suewiththegreenlights · 20/04/2021 11:48

M and S can’t claim the intellectual property for a Swiss roll with a face on it! I don’t understand their thinking - it’s not like they have competing customer bases anyway! Aldi’s whole premise is “almost the same but cheaper” so it seems a bizarre move.

ElfDragon · 20/04/2021 11:48

I assume M&S have taken on this particular case with Aldi because they think, for whatever reason, that the Aldi caterpillar is too close a copy of their brand product. I assume, also, that they have taken advice on whether they have a strong case.

The initial banter from Aldi was funny, but I think enough is enough. Trying to shame another company into donating to charity, or imply that money that is being spent on this legal case would otherwise go to charity, is a step too far.

M&S have charities they donate to, and policies and procedures for how much is donated/how it gets raised. Trying to deflect from an obvious wrongdoing (in copying the cake too closely) by attempting to make out that M&S are the party in the wrong for defending their brand product is not a good look.

WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 20/04/2021 11:51

The initial banter from Aldi was funny, but I think enough is enough. Trying to shame another company into donating to charity, or imply that money that is being spent on this legal case would otherwise go to charity, is a step too far.

I agree with that. Seems a little sneaky.

Original poster
Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 11:52

Colin pink tongue Cuthbert no pink tongue
Totally different shape feet
Colin large smarties in fairly regular pattern on each circle - Aldi smaller smarties scattered randomly

That's just off the top of my head

OP posts:
Original poster
Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 11:53

The faces are both white chocolate but the features are much more defined on M & S

OP posts:
emilyfrost · 20/04/2021 11:55

Yeah ok sure run with those OP 😂

More than ever this just shows Aldi to be the awful retailer everyone always suspected it was.

They copy, get caught out and are now trying to play the victim. Shame on them. I would judge anyone who gave them business after this.

QueenPaw · 20/04/2021 11:57

@emilyfrost but everyone copies! It's only Aldi they've kicked off about so why not do it to everyone else
Video here if anyone is bored of all the cakes

SeaTurtles92 · 20/04/2021 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 12:04

I prefer Lidl myself (not sure if they do a Caterpillar) but their chocolate is the best!

OP posts:
emilyfrost · 20/04/2021 12:06

It’s not that people copy, of course people copy. The problem is that Aldi’s is a pretty much exact replica. There’s no issue with any of the other supermarket caterpillar cakes.

Aldi is counting on idiots to go “oh but everyone copies!” because the idiots are the ones who are ignorant in business.

You’ve got to hand it to Aldi - their marketing department on this is spot on, because there are a lot of idiots out there. Hence all the free cuthbert fans.

But Aldi is the bad guy and playing the victim here. M&S have done nothing wrong and are totally in the right, but again, the general populous are idiots and you can’t do much about that 🤷‍♀️

FrangipaniBlue · 20/04/2021 12:09

The Aldi one is no similar than any of the others, every single one is a "replica" just with slight alterations.

M&S are being ridiculous singling out Aldi, if they had an issue with it they should have taken it up with ALL the other supermarkets.

It's just smacks of "the popular kid" targeting the "weakest kid".

#freecuthbert

Original poster
Comefromaway · 20/04/2021 12:10

And the timing is odd as Cuthbert isn't sold all year round and isn;t actually available at the moment.

OP posts:
Cindy87 · 20/04/2021 12:16

I think Aldi's marketing team are incredibly talented. M&S have every right to sue but I think that no matter how similar the product, them and Aldi have completely different client bases. If Waitrose copied it - fair play. I shop in Aldi for my weekly shop but would always go to M&S for a Colin cake.

LimaFoxtrotCharlie · 20/04/2021 12:17

@FrangipaniBlue

The Aldi one is no similar than any of the others, every single one is a "replica" just with slight alterations.

M&S are being ridiculous singling out Aldi, if they had an issue with it they should have taken it up with ALL the other supermarkets.

It's just smacks of "the popular kid" targeting the "weakest kid".

#freecuthbert

Aldi is being “targeted” because their product is significantly lower in quality than the M&S version. Once out of the box eg at a party, guests might assume it’s from Marks and be disappointed. They therefore wouldn’t buy the M&S version for their own party
HectorHalloumi · 20/04/2021 12:18

I thought it wasn't available because they had to take it off the shelves while all this was going on?

I believe M & S have singled out Aldi because they often come out top on taste tests and M & S are running scared.

#freecuthbert I'm obviously an idiot who is totally ignorant of business, eh Emilyfrost Hmm

Soubriquet · 20/04/2021 12:20

It’s funny how M&S are only going after Aldi who are known for those who don’t have a lot of money shop at.

It’s a cheap place for people to get their shopping yet one of the most expensive places is suing the cheapest place Hmm

Why have they not gone after someone like Tesco or Sainsbury’s?

Horehound · 20/04/2021 12:26

@emilyfrost I think you are way off with your description of Aldi and customers of Aldi as idiots Hmm
You asked op to name changes, she named changes, they weren't good enough for you.

Clearly you think Aldi is a lowly supermarket that only poor plebs visit. When actually it has high quality local produce and many different types of people shop there.
I wonder if you work for M&S..