Aldi has revealed the long-awaited date that its viral Kevin the Carrot toy range will be back in UK stores for the festive season.
We can’t deny it now, it’s officially ‘that time’ of year again.
The shelves of supermarkets nationwide are filled with festive food, drink, and gifts from top to toe, Christmas adverts are being released thick and fast, and Manchester Christmas Markets are now officially open and spreading seasonal cheer right across our city, so it only seems fitting that Kevin the Carrot will soon be making his return.
Aldi’s unofficial – or you could say official at this point, let’s be honest – Christmas companion has become an absolute fan favourite over the past few years, appearing on the majority of the retailer’s Christmas adverts and being turned into different themed products and merchandise along the way.
By far the most popular of those themed products has to be the Kevin the Carrot plush toys, which have been known to have shoppers queuing outside their local stores on release day.
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Bound to sell out almost as soon as they hit the shelves once again this year, Aldi has now confirmed the date Kevin will be back.
Kevin the Carrot will be returning to the Specialbuys section in the legendary ‘Middle Aisle’ with an assignment to “make this the best Christmas possible”, according to the retailer, from this Thursday (14 November), and shoppers will be able to collect all the characters from this year’s Aldi Christmas advert.
The Christmas Plush rangestarts from just £2.99 each, and includes Kevin himself, alongside his pal Katie, “like you’ve never seen them before”.
You’ll also be able to get Humbug plushies, little tree decoration plushies, and also the new ‘My Pal Kevin the Carrot’ too, who haslong arms and legs and is described as being “the perfect Christmas companion”.
Shoppers looking to get their hands on the Christmas Plush range are being advised to “act fast”, as with all Aldi Specialbuys, it’s a case of “once they’re gone, they’re gone”.
The Christmas Plush range will be in Aldi stores nationwide from Thursday 14 November.
Featured Image – Aldi UK
Shopping
Lidl are offering a reward for their Liam Gallagher plaque to be safely returned
Danny Jones
Supermarket chain Lidl are desperate and in dire need of our help: they’re offering a reward to whoever safely returns one of their most treasured possessions – a Liam Gallagher plaque.
If you don’t remember the rather silly story from earlier this year, Oasis’ soon-to-return lead singer did plenty of poking fun at the Co-op Live‘s opening date being pushed back and multiple cancellations.
The iconic frontman ultimately ended up playing his four nights at the state-of-the-art arena with no issues, but as a tongue-in-cheek testament to his joke that’d he play a “gig in Lidl” if the venue wasn’t ready in time, the German-founded group erected a plaque in memory of the gag.
However, Lidl’s beloved Liam Gallagher plaque has since gone missing but rather than launch a full-scale manhunt, they’re trying to keep up the festive spirit and instead offering a pretty significant reward to the person that brings it back to them.
Don’t look plaque in anger – we need your help! 🚨
Our Liam Gallagher plaque in Manchester, honouring the gig that almost happened, has gone missing! 📷 Can you help us bring it home in time for Christmas?🎄We've got a £500 Lidl voucher ready and waiting in exchange for its safe… pic.twitter.com/VYr5RygttT
Although leads on the missing bit of royal blue metal are scarce, the plaque that was hung outside their Newton Heath store back in June disappeared this month.
Not only was it an amusing bit of history for the brand but the sign itself actually became a bit of an ironic but nevertheless genuine tourist attraction, with people grabbing snaps next to it and it even featured on the Manchester Taxi Tour itineraries.
This little plaque was actually just the start of a weird love affair between the two; back in October, Lidl also dropped an absolutely perfectly placed advert right in front of a giant poster of Liam Gallagher’s Berghaus ad campaign in the centre of Manchester.
Very good indeed.
All that being said, they really would love to be reunited with the memento of their relationship, so much so that they’re offering a whopping £500 to spend in Lidl vouchers for its safe return.
Credit: James Speakman/PA Media Assignments (supplied via Lidl GB)
Just think of all the nonsense you could buy in the ‘Middle of Lidl’ aisle, a.k.a. the best part of the whole shop.
Those who have any information on the whereabouts of the Liam Gallagher plaque should email the following address: [email protected]. The Burnage brothers aren’t holding grudges anymore and neither are Lidl.
Let’s bring Liam home for Christmas. As you were x
The Trafford Centre launches Premium Parking service where shoppers pay up to £217
Daisy Jackson
For the first time ever, the Trafford Centre is charging for parking – but it’s not quite what it seems.
While all of us are used to forking out a small fortune to park in the city centre, Trafford Centre has always been free.
Now, the huge shopping centre has launched a Premium Parking service, with guaranteed spaces right near the shops and plenty of other perks.
Shoppers will pay from £4 an hour for the privilege of having access to bigger bays in a newly resurfaced section of the car park, just outside Selfridges.
But prices will go all the way up to £217 for valet parking, where your car is taken from you at the entrance to be deep-cleaned and then parked back in a bay.
That Ultra Valet service even includes a clean of your engine compartment.
Premium valet parking, without the deep clean, is a £25 flat rate.
The Premium Parking at Trafford Centre gets you a space as close as possible to the shops. Credit: The Manc Group
Once you’re done shopping, you can summon your vehicle back at the touch of a button on your phone, and it will be brought straight back to the entrance for you.
No need to trudge for miles in the rain battling against thousands of other Christmas shoppers.
The Premium Parking service is aimed at those looking for an elevated service and an enhanced shopping experience.
Shoppers have never had to pay for parking at The Trafford Centre before but if you’ve ever experienced the stress that is finding a decent space during the Christmas shopping rush, maybe it’s money well spent?
How much is Premium Parking at the Trafford Centre?
Emily Sergeant -
11th November 2024 
