Oldham Bakery's Gluten-Free Colin the Caterpillar Cake Proves a Retail Sensation
The renowned Oldham bakery that produces the iconic Colin the Caterpillar cake for Marks & Spencer is celebrating a remarkable sales achievement. Park Cakes, operating from one of M&S's designated 'fortress factories', has seen its new gluten-free Colin variant sell more than 10,000 units in just the first five days of availability.
Substantial Investment in Specialised Production
This success follows a significant investment exceeding £1.5 million at Park Cakes' Oldham facility to develop a 'factory within a factory'. This dedicated area ensures complete segregation from other production lines to prevent cross-contamination, featuring a fully enclosed process from baking through to packaging. Up to fifty staff members work on this specialised line at any given time.
An Enduring Partnership with Marks & Spencer
Park Cakes has maintained a collaborative relationship with Marks & Spencer spanning over eight decades, beginning with Eccles cakes and expanding to include hundreds of product ranges. The Colin the Caterpillar cake, first introduced in 1990, now sees approximately one million units sold annually. M&S products currently constitute eighty-five percent of Park Cakes' output from their Oldham site.
The 'fortress factory' designation indicates a facility primarily focused on M&S products, enabling accelerated development of new offerings. This strategic partnership allowed both companies to work collaboratively for several months perfecting the gluten-free Colin recipe.
Exceeding Sales Expectations and Future Capacity
The gluten-free Colin the Caterpillar launched last Wednesday across more than four hundred M&S stores nationwide. Sales have already surpassed initial projections, with the retail giant anticipating annual sales exceeding 150,000 units. Park Cakes has confirmed it can triple production capacity if market demand requires expansion.
Executive Perspectives on Innovation and Collaboration
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director at M&S Food, commented: "Innovation remains central to our approach at M&S Food, and our fortress factories provide a distinct competitive advantage. We aim to delight customers while maintaining uncompromising quality standards. By investing in British manufacturing, we foster lasting supplier relationships and support employment throughout the supply chain. Growing demand for gluten-free products makes it particularly rewarding that more customers can now enjoy this British icon."
Jason Warner, Commercial Controller at Park Cake Bakeries, added: "When M&S proposed creating a gluten-free version of the legendary Colin the Caterpillar, we enthusiastically accepted the challenge. Developing a new production line and experimenting with ingredients presented obstacles, but we're confident customers will appreciate the result. Our enduring partnership with M&S provides stability that enables continued business investment and product excellence. Eighty years later, seeing our creations on M&S shelves remains immensely satisfying."
Customer Demand Driving Product Development
Marks & Spencer revealed that customer requests via social media platforms prompted the gluten-free Colin's development. Additionally, more than twenty M&S employees contacted CEO Stuart Machin through the company's 'Straight to Stuart' suggestion scheme advocating for the product.
Beyond its manufacturing operations, Park Cakes maintains a popular factory shop that attracts local visitors, highlighting the company's ongoing connection with the Oldham community.
