Aldi’s ‘Kevin the carrot’ toy gobbled up online in hours

DEMAND for a festive stuffed toy shaped like a carrot overwhelmed a supermarket’s website and led people to queue from 4am in the rain to get their hands on the limited edition item.

“Kevin” is the star of Aldi’s Christmas television campaign along with accomplices “Tortoise” and “Mouse”. They were released yesterday morning and the entire collection sold out online before midday after more than 76,000 shoppers logged on.

Customers trying to access the discount retailer’s website were placed in a virtual queue but many were left disappointed.

One Kevin fan, who queued outside a store to add the toys to her collection, said: “New additions to the family this morning. Waiting in the rain was so worth it.” Another social media user, who waited in line for 90 minutes, wrote: “It’s carrot day. First in line, been here since half-six.” A number of parents were seen taking their children into the supermarket before school to snap up the Kevin and Animal Friends Set for £11.95.

Some entrepreneurial shoppers have already put the set up for sale on ebay at the inflated price of £70.

In a nod to the film Home Alone, this year’s TV commercial features Kevin stuck in the house after missing a family flight to Paris for a Christmas getaway.

Aldi was contacted for comment.