Is it a boy? Is it a girl? No it’s a limited-edition Cuthbert.
That's right, in an ode to the ever-growing trend of gender reveal parties, and to coincide with September being the month that most babies are born in, Aldi has decided to give its iconic Cuthbert Cake a very special makeover for a limited time only.
Designed to offer expectant parents the ultimate way to reveal the gender of their child, this special Cuthbert is now available via an exclusive shopper competition.
The limited-edition cake will be completely free for those lucky enough to get their hands on it.
Image: Aldi
Decorated with blue and pink chocolate beans, the exclusive new cake has two versions of filling, just as you’d expect – one with pink buttercream icing (for a girl), and blue buttercream icing (for a boy).
The launch of the gender reveal Cuthberts comes after recent research from Aldi has revealed that 58% of millennial Brits have celebrated gender reveal moments, and 48% of Gen Z having attended an average of three gender reveal parties in the last five years – with cake found to be the most popular method of revealing a baby’s gender.
Cake was found to be more popular than balloons, confetti, or fireworks, making it twice as popular much as any other gender reveal option.
Image: Aldi
And that’s not all either, as following the news that traditional baby names have been seeing a decline in popularity among expectant parents in favour of more unique options, 5% of Brits even admitted that they would consider naming their child Cuthbert after the budget supermarket retailer’s icon.
Want to win a gender reveal Cuthbert then?
Shoppers just need to send an email detailing their full name, why they or a loved one would be the ideal recipient of this cake, the address of their closest Aldi store, and the gender of their baby to GenderRevealCuthbert@aldi.co.uk.
The competition will open until 11:59pm on 14September, and the lucky winners will be notified of their win via email by 28 September.
You can find further competition details, along with terms and conditions here.
Le Creuset will be bringing its biggest-ever in-person event to Yorkshire next month, offering massive discounts on its hit cookware pieces.
The Factory to Table Sale will be heading to Harrogate, filled with all of Le Creuset's most popular items, from salt and pepper grinders to casserole dishes.
And they've said that the sale will include some rare colours, unusual shapes, and pieces you won’t typically find in the brand’s UK boutiques and outlets.
Taking over the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September, there'll be loads of Le Creuset cookware for up to half price.
And this isn’t just any old warehouse clear-out. The event is billed as Le Creuset UK’s biggest-ever in-person event, with more cast iron cookware on offer than ever before.
Expect plenty of the brand’s instantly recognisable pieces, alongside limited-edition colours and harder-to-find designs.
The biggest-ever in-person Le Creuset event is coming to Yorkshire. Credit: Fever
Among the tempting finds are seasonal favourites including the pumpkin and petal casseroles, making this one for anyone who likes their kitchenware to be as decorative as it is practical.
The sale takes place across three days at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, as follows:
Friday 25 September - 9.45am–7pm, with last entry at 6.15pm
Saturday 26 September - 9am–6pm, with last entry at 5.15pm
Sunday 27 September - 9am–5.30pm, with last entry at 4.45pm
Tickets are allocated to pre-booked time slots, and under-16s will need to be accompanied by an adult.
The catch? Tickets haven’t gone on general sale yet. You can join the waitlist nowfor exclusive presale access, giving you the chance to get in before the wider public.
So, if your kitchen has been crying out for a new Dutch oven, or you simply enjoy the thrill of finding a bargain in a very attractive shade of red, Harrogate might be worth the trip this September.
IKEA to launch its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture
Emily Sergeant
IKEA will be launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture.
Just like the ever-popular Facebook Marktplace, the IKEA second-hand marketplace is a dedicated space where pre-loved IKEA products can find a new home.
In bid to make affordable second-hand home furnishings easily accessible, the new online platform will enable customers across the UK to connect with one another directly, so they can buy and sell pre-owned IKEA items locally.
Designed specifically for IKEA products, the marketplace will provide everything shoppers need in one place.
The Swedish retailer is already known and loved for its 'functional' and 'affordable' home furnishings, all produced with care for people and the environment, but the launch of the new IKEA second-hand market place will make it just as easy to pass on an old favourite as it is to find a new one.
IKEA is launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture / Credit: Supplied
"At IKEA, we are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love," a spokesperson for the retailer said.
"With the launch of IKEA second-hand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned IKEA furniture.
"Our goal is to make passing on beloved IKEA pieces as seamless as possible.
"We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our IKEA Family members to trade directly with one another. We want the process for buying and selling pre-owned IKEA products to be simple, accessible and rewarding."
Detailed information regarding the official launch and how customers can get involved will be made available in the coming months.