Aldi shoppers in the UK have voted for their favourite product from the discount supermarket, with many copycats of well-known brands taking the top spots.
Whether he’s brightening up children’s birthday parties or skydiving from 40,000 feet for charity, the German-born retailer’s award-winning “Cuthbert” cake always has a smile on its face.
Priced at £6.49, Cuthbert’s combines chocolate sponge cake and chocolate-flavoured buttercream.
The edible insect with a bow tie is covered in milk chocolate and decorated with candy.
Despite suffering a brief stint in the wilderness when it was pulled from shelves in 2021 following controversy, Cuthbert’s celebration cake triumphed as a “fan favourite”.
Aldi, which opened its first UK store in Birmingham in 1990, asked customers to vote for the items that kept them coming back week after week.
After taking 30 per cent of the votes in the Social Media Star category, Cuthbert (pictured), Aldi’s bug-shaped chocolate cake, was crowned the overall winner.
Magnum Liquid Dishwashing Detergent (left), 69p, took 20 per cent of the votes in the Cleaning category, while first place in Health & Beauty went to Hotel Collection Luxury Hand and Body Wash No.1 Lime, Basil & Mandarin (right), £1.99
In April 2021, Marks & Spencer took Aldi to court for copying its £9.50 “Colin the Caterpillar” design, but Cuthbert was soon back on display after the matter was settled in a confidential settlement.
Aldi, which opened its first UK store in Birmingham in 1990, asked customers to vote for the items that kept them coming back week after week.
More than 420,000 votes were cast in the Fan Favourite poll which covered the following ten categories: Social Media Star, Sweets & Snacks, Lunch, Dinner, Takeaway, Pantry Essentials, Best Drink, Health & Beauty, Cleaning and Best of Britain.
With more than 30 percent of the votes in the Social Media Star category, Cuthbert was the clear winner.
Julie Ashfield, Aldi’s UK buying general manager, said: “There’s never been anything like Cuthbert’s in British supermarkets. OK, maybe there have been some similarities elsewhere, but we’re proud of our iconic cake and, it seems, so are our customers.”
The second most voted product was Magnum liquid detergent, priced at 69p, which received 20 per cent of the votes in the Cleaning category.
Each of the winning products will now be featured as a ‘Fan Favourite’ in Aldi stores, helping customers quickly find their best buys.
In the sweets and snacks category, Aldi’s 77p Belmont Milk Chocolate Digestives received the most votes.
Aldi’s Belmont product is often compared to McVitie’s milk chocolate Digestives, which are considerably more expensive (£3.00).
The supermarket’s Specially Selected New York Deli pastrami and emmental cheese sandwich, at £2.69, was the winner of the lunch category, while Aldi’s Ready, Set Cook! Classic Fajita Dinner Kit, at £1.79, took the dinner prize.
The fan favourite fakeaway was Carlos’s £2.25 loaded pepperoni crust pizza.
Bramwells baked beans in a rich tomato sauce, 42p, were voted best Aldi pantry item by voters and the £6.29 Pierre Jaurant Sud De France Rosé won best drink.
First place in the Health & Beauty category went to Hotel Collection Luxury Hand and Body Wash No.1 Lime, Basil & Mandarin, £1.99.
Finally, Aldi’s Nordpak Spreadable Slightly Salted, which costs £2.09, was crowned winner in the Best of Britain category.
Reflecting on the Fan Favourites survey, Ms Ashfield added: ‘It’s been fantastic and fascinating to see what gets the stamp of approval from shoppers across such a wide range of products.
‘Now that our new winners will be featured in-store, we hope it will be easier than ever for customers to find their favorite product.’