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Aldi’s Kevin The Carrot to be sold via festival-style queuing system for 2020

The cuddly carrot flies off shelves every single year, and with the budget supermarket's festive advert (starring the orange plush toy) toppling 5.8 million views - 2020 is set to be no different.

The Manc The Manc - 11th November 2020
Aldi

Kevin The Carrot, Aldi’s wildly popular Christmas character, will be sold using the same queuing technology for festival and gig tickets this year.

The cuddly carrot flies off shelves every winter, and with the budget supermarket’s festive advert (starring the orange plush toy) toppling 5.8 million views – 2020 is set to be no different.

To cope with demand, Aldi is actually introducing the same digital queuing technology used for Glastonbury.

Kevin the Carrot and associated plush toys will be available on Aldi’s website from 8am on Sunday, November 15.

And, for the first time, he will also be ready to buy via Deliveroo.

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The toy range this year includes the new Pilot Kevin and friends like Wingman Turkey, Harry the Hedgehog, Grate Grandma and Grate Grandad.

These toys will cost £3.99 each or be available as a bundle for £19.95.

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A giant version of Kevin will set you back £19.99.

Head over to the Aldi website and keep your eyes peeled for more info on Kevin ahead of the big launch day…

News

Salford RLFC issue statement as head coach Mike Grady departs after less than three months

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mike Grady leaves Salford RLFC mutual consent

Salford Rugby League Football Club have issued an official statement following the departure of head coach Mike Grady, who has left the role after less than three months in the job.

It has been insisted that this is not a sacking, but rather a joint decision to terminate his contract.

Grady, who took up the mantle at the start of this project following the end of the Salford Red Devils era, was only appointed on 5 January.

He had previously been in charge of the Red Devils’ women’s side over the past couple of years, but moved over to hopefully lead this new era forward.

As you can see, the club confirmed in a statement that they and Grady have “mutually agreed to part ways due to changes in his personal circumstances.”

They go on to write: “We are forever indebted to Mike for his unwavering commitment to the club. We want to thank him for all his hard work since taking on the role as Head Coach in very challenging circumstances in December.”

Also sharing a comment from former player turned CEO, Ryan Brierley, he said: “Mike came in as Coach at a time when the club had just come through one of its toughest times with the double impact of relegation and liquidation.

“He was willing to roll up his sleeves and bring stability to the club on the pitch. The fact we were able to field a team against Oldham in January, after only three weeks, speaks volumes about his commitment and determination. To beat Hunslet at home only four weeks later was a fantastic achievement. 

“Mike will always be remembered as the person [who] strived and achieved the objective of sending out the first Salford team of this new era. A team running onto the pitch, after so much hard work, gave us all something to cheer about. We also remember how well he successfully guided our women’s team to third and fourth place finishes in the Championship.”

Grady himself has maintained throughout his tenure that he was “enjoying” the job despite the early challenges of trying to lead a fresh franchise in a competitive division.

Sharing his own farewell message, he went on to add: “I want to thank Ryan for the opportunity to represent this great club and fan base. What we created at the start of the year was pretty special, and I’m proud to have built that.

“I’m happy to leave the club in a better place than I found it and wish the club all the best for the future.” Salford RLFC have already assured that they are now recruiting for his replacement.

In the meantime, Assistant Coach Dave Hewitt – who came on board with Grady at the start of the 2026 season – will look after the team in the interim.

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Featured Images — Salford RLFC (screenshot via YouTube)/roughyedsfan (via Flickr)

News

Price caps and standardisations to be introduced for vet care in UK following major investigation

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Dog at the vets

Reforms to the veterinary industry to help pet owners better navigate the vet services market are set to be introduced this year.

After an independent inquiry group recently found that the current system is leaving pet owners ‘in the dark’, with a lack of information to help make informed decisions leading to weak competition and high prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week concluded its investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.

The final report green-lights a package of measures to make the market more competitive, easier to navigate, and more responsive to pet owners’ needs.

It outlines the final remedies and recommendations, which together, will transform the market.

Remedies and recommendations in the report range from price caps and standardisations, through to upfront cost transparency.

Practices will soon be required to publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options – so pet owners know up-front how much certain services are expected to cost.

They’ll also have to make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business, and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs), plus an itemised bill.

Written prescription fees are set to be capped at £21 for the first medicine, and then £12.50 for any additional medicines.

Price caps and standardisations are set to be introduced for vet care in UK / Credit: Pxhere

There’s also set to be changes to the complaints process, as practices will now be required to follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process, and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.

The CMA says an ‘unprecedented’ response from both the public and the sector has helped to shape the final report.

The next step is for the Government to respond to the report formally – with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, commenting: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, and we will respond to the report and set out next steps for our proposed reforms in due course.

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“This Government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”

Featured Image – Pxhere

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