FANS of Colin the Caterpillar are going wild after Marks and Spencer revealed a festive version of the hugely popular chocolate cake.
The iconic M&S Colin the Caterpillar has graced the table at many birthday events, but now he will pull up in his sleigh for a festive appearance.
“Colin’s been upgraded this year guys prepare yourselves,” one excited shopper wrote under a Facebook post about the festive treat.
The Sleigh Ride Colin the Caterpillar features “Colin as you’ve never seen him before,” M&S states.
With 46% more chocolate than the traditional caterpillar cake, Colin is getting into the spirit of Christmas, oozing both joy and indulgence.
Festive Colin wears a red Santa hat and is pulling a present-filled sleigh with candy canes and white and milk chocolate gifts.
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He even has white winter boots and Christmas-themed sprinkles which are red, white and green.
They are made up of tiny Christmas trees, candy canes and snowflakes.
To get a taste of the “upgraded” Colin, shoppers will have to pay £15 for the vegetarian cake that serves 10 people.
Colin lovers won’t even have to leave their seats to secure one for the big day as the caterpillar cake is included in the M&S Food to Order service.
As news spread of the new Colin, shoppers flooded Facebook comments celebrating the addition to the M&S Christmas range and frantically tagging friends and family members.
“I hope you realise that this is a Christmas essential,” one woman wrote while tagging her partner.
“Well it would be rude not to have one,” another added.
One simply wrote three words in response to the new cake: “Must have one.”
“The sledge looks nice, thick and chocolatey, can’t wait to give it a try,” an excited shopper wrote.
“My children will beg me [to] get this for Christmas,” a mother added.
However, some were baffled by the new Colin and his festive accessories.
“It looks like one of those dogs that needs wheels to run around,” one wrote.
“I didn’t realise he was riding a sleigh,” another added.
For others, it was the price that left them unenthused about the festive product.
“Just so over the top,” one shopper said, noting that “many cannot afford” a £15 cake.
The question of cost also saw the conversation quickly turn to the most famous cake rivalry.
“Can’t wait to see Cuthbert the caterpillar on his sledge Aldi UK,” a cheeky shopper said on Facebook.
Some tagged the German retailer asking if they could make a cheaper version of Colin in his sleigh.
Aldi has famously re-created the Colin the Caterpillar cake with their own Cuthbert the Caterpillar, causing fierce competition between the two companies and among fans forced to pick sides.
It seems that the rivalry will not be settled for Christmas this year after a festive version of Cuthbert has appeared on the Aldi website and will be available from November 24.
Unlike Colin, Cuthbert Christmas is not in a sleigh, but wearing a Santa hat, a green bow tie and has white chocolate stars down his back.
The Aldi version that serves 12 people costs £6.49.
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M&S is also offering savoury treats for Christmas as part of the Food to Order service.
This includes a handcrafted Christmas Sausage Roll Garland for £10, a Slow-Cooked Turkey serving up to 10 people for £85 and a Honey Glazed Vegetable & Barber’s Cheddar Galette for £22.