Lidl is set to take on the likes of M&S and Aldi in the celebration cake arena as it has unveiled its very own chocolate caterpillar cake.
Called Cooper, the cake comprises a chocolate sponge roll, filled with chocolate buttercream and covered in milk chocolate and is set to hit Lidl’s shelves nationwide on Friday 19 June for £6.99.
Its launch is accompanied by a limited-edition book for adults, ‘The Very Late Caterpillar’, a tongue in cheek nod revealing why the caterpillar cake took so long to arrive. The book can be attained for free at LidlsLateCaterpillar.co.uk launch day, and those with the book will receive a voucher to claim a free caterpillar cake.
While most supermarkets have their own version of caterpillar cakes, much of rivalry centres around M&S’ Colin the Caterpillar and Aldi’s Cuthbert. This was sparked in 2021 when M&S took legal action against the discounter arguing that Cuthbert represented a trademark infringement, however a truce was called a year later when the retailers agreed an out of court settlement. Cuthbert returned to shelves shortly after with an updated design.
Having been unveiled in 1990, Colin was the first caterpillar cake on the scene. Made by Park Cakes, the character has been extended into seasonal variations, mini rolls, a chocolatey frozen dessert, confectionery, and recently a much-awaited gluten-free version.
*Prices obtained from retailer websites on 16.06.26
A blind taste test by consumer testing and reviews specialist Which? recently pitted nine caterpillar cakes against each other, assessing everything from flavour and texture to appearance and aroma. Waitrose’s Cecil came out on top with a score of 78%, followed by Co-op’s Party Time Charlie at 73%.
Finsbury Food Group, which manufacturers caterpillar cakes for several of the supermarkets, claimed to be behind many of those ranked in the top ties.
“Caterpillar cakes hold a special place in British celebrations, so we know how important it is to get every detail just right. From the depth of the chocolate flavour to the balance of sponge and buttercream, our teams spend countless hours refining recipes, testing textures and perfecting finishes,” said Adam Arnott, group grocery sales director at Finsbury Food Group.
“What’s particularly exciting about this result is that it was a blind taste test. It shows that when branding is stripped away, what truly stands out is quality and flavour, and that’s exactly what we strive to deliver for our retail partners and their customers every day.”
Finsbury added that the Which? results highlighted just how competitive the caterpillar cake category has become, with all cakes scoring 64% or higher overall, a testament to the enduring popularity of this nostalgic British celebration cake.
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