Colyn the Caterpillar crawls into battle between M&S and Aldi

A Northumberland baker has raised the game in a creepy-crawly legal battle between supermarket giants M&S and Aldi.
Colyn the Caterpillar cake, made by Colyn Pentleton, of The Farm Bakery Shops.Colyn the Caterpillar cake, made by Colyn Pentleton, of The Farm Bakery Shops.
Colyn the Caterpillar cake, made by Colyn Pentleton, of The Farm Bakery Shops.

M&S, who first produced its Colin the Caterpillar cake about 30 years ago, has claimed Aldi infringed its trademark when it launched the rival Cuthbert the Caterpillar in 2019 and last week lodged a claim with the High Court. M&S is demanding Aldi remove the product from sale.

As the stores slug it out over their respective creations, Colyn Pentleton, of The Farm Bakery Shops, has produced a tongue-in-cheek version of his own.

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Colyn’s design, a sponge covered in chocolate, marshmallows as spikes and sweets for legs, was rustled up to take a light-hearted swipe at the ongoing row. What makes his version stand out from the crowd is that it sports a picture of Colyn’s jolly face instead of a white chocolate caterpillar head.

Colyn the Caterpillar cake is covered in chocolate, with marshmallow spikes and sweets as legs.Colyn the Caterpillar cake is covered in chocolate, with marshmallow spikes and sweets as legs.
Colyn the Caterpillar cake is covered in chocolate, with marshmallow spikes and sweets as legs.

"I’m the one who makes the cakes, and Colin the Caterpillar is usually the cake my wife Christine buys for me every year," explained Colyn, whose spectacular designs have proved very popular. “At the end of the day, caterpillar cakes were a thing before M&S started them!”

On his Facebook page, Colyn issued a challenge: “Our very own COLYN the Caterpillar cake ... see you in court M&S!”

He told the Gazette: "What can they do? I’m called Colyn, I’m a baker and I made a caterpillar cake!”

The Farm Bakery opened its first shop in Amble in December 2010, and followed that with a branch in Alnwick in 2017.

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