M&S is giving Colin the Caterpillar a Halloween twist with its limited-edition 'Trick or Treat Colin the Caterpillar,' a cake split between Colin and a witch persona. The format turns one familiar caterpillar cake into a two-sided dessert, so buyers get both the usual smiling face and a darker chocolate half in one product.
The cake uses a naughty-and-nice setup instead of a full redesign. Its standout detail is the pair of chocolate faces: one half keeps Colin's grin, while the other recasts the character as a witch, giving Halloween tables a recognizable centerpiece with a built-in choice of which side to cut first.
The split-face format keeps a long-running cake relevant for Halloween without changing the core product people already know. Turning the same cake into a playful two-character dessert makes a simple seasonal variation feel more collectible.
Image Credit: @M&S
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Split-persona Desserts
- Dual-character formats create novelty from familiar products, opening space for collectible seasonal variants that feel fresh without requiring full product reinvention.
- Seasonal Character Recasting
- Established mascots can gain renewed relevance when adapted to holiday personas, expanding emotional engagement while preserving brand recognition.
- Choice-driven Treat Design
- Built-in contrasts such as naughty-and-nice flavors or visuals add playful decision-making to desserts, turning ordinary sharing moments into more interactive occasions.
Where This Applies
- Grocery Retail
- Limited-edition seasonal bakery items give supermarkets differentiated footfall drivers and social-ready products tied to short-term celebration cycles.
- Packaged Bakery
- Iconic cakes with modular visual updates provide a scalable path for recurring holiday releases that balance novelty with operational consistency.
- Confectionery
- Character-led chocolate details and themed decorations support premiumization opportunities around affordable indulgences for families and party hosts.
