Aldi And Marks & Spencer Settle Caterpillar Cake Dispute

Peace has at last been brokered in the great war of the supermarket caterpillar cakes.

But yesterday (Tuesday 1 February), both parties confirmed they had reached a settlement - though they declined to offer up details of the agreement.

An Aldi spokesperson told LADbible: "Cuthbert is free and looking forward to seeing all his fans again very soon!"

Meanwhile, an M&S spokesperson - striking a contrastingly serious tone - said: "The objective of the claim was to protect the [intellectual property] in our Colin the Caterpillar cake and we are very pleased with the outcome."

M&S launched its Colin the Caterpillar cake more than 30 years ago, adding festive adaptations and Connie the Caterpillar to its caterpillar cake range over the years.

Many supermarkets have subsequently launched similar cakes of their own - such as Sainsbury's Wiggles, Tesco's Curly, Morris by Morrisons, the Co-op's Charlie, Cecil by Waitrose and Asda's Clyde - but Aldi's Cuthbert the Caterpillar was seemingly deemed to have crossed a line.

M&S wanted Aldi to remove the product from sale and agree not to sell anything similar in the future - but Aldi made it clear it wouldn't back down without a fight.

On Facebook and Twitter, the supermarket said: "This is not just any court case, this is... #FreeCuthbert"

M&S launched an intellectual property claim with the High Court last April, arguing the similarity of Aldi's product lead consumers to believe they are of the same standard and 'rides on the coat-tails' of M&S's reputation.

M&S has three trademarks relating to Colin and argued it/he has an enhanced distinctive character and reputation.

Aldi made changes to the design of its cake and began selling it again last May.