It’s official: Aussies no longer need to visit the UK.
Coles has just announced it will be selling the single best export from across the pond, and it is “life-changing”, but not just for all the British expats who’ve made a new life Down Under.
Mark my words. The addition of Percy Pig, an iconic sweet treat sold at bougie British supermarket Marks & Spencer’s, to Australian life is going to change everything.
It’s game over for us all.
Now, that may sound a little dramatic, but as a Londoner who moved to Sydney almost 15 years ago, I am speaking with good authority.
There’s something irresistible about the adorable pig-shaped sweet, made from a combination of soft jelly and foam – and it’s not just the delicious raspberry and strawberry flavour.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say there is nothing else like it in the world.
And because of this, I make sure I come back with a decent stash every time I go home.
Such is my dedication, I took an empty hand-luggage suitcase on my most recent jaunt in June, just so I could fill it to the brim with the different Percy Pig variations.
My credit card statement shows I spent $246.33 on the pink treat (in my defence, the exchange rate really isn’t great for the Aussie Dollar).
But it was worth every penny, I mean cent, obviously.
It’s not just Percy Pig, either. M&S has another character, Colin the Caterpillar, who is just as beloved in British homes.
It started out as a log cake, adorned with a funny face made out of white chocolate, that kids would have at every birthday party.
There are now a multitude of different Colins on the market, and Coles has some of those in its aisles now too, though sadly not the cake, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
It’s not just me who is loopy for a Percy Pig either. An official Instagram page dedicated to fans of the sweet treat posted a video overnight that has been flooded with British expats having a real-life meltdown.
“Percy do not play with me right now, this is life changing,” said one.
“I’m an Aussie living in the UK and I literally screamed when I saw this — I was jumping around my kitchen! My partner thought I’d won the lottery,” shared another.
As one admitted: “I’ve been getting them off the black market thus far.”
Others asked if the announcement was “real”, while simultaneously declaring “this is the best news ever”.
Coles said it was “excited to join forces with Marks & Spencer” to bring the iconic British favourites to Australia for the “very first time”.
“Marks & Spencer is renowned for outstanding quality, and we’re thrilled to bring a selection of their most-loved food products to Coles, giving millions of Australians the chance to enjoy the best of British right here at home,” said Coles Chief Commercial Officer, Anna Croft.
M&S described the partnership with the Aussie retailer as a “major milestone” for the company, marking the start of the expansion of M&S Food to Australia.
“We know Australians have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar sweets, so we’re delighted to partner with one of Australia’s leading supermarkets, Coles – a partner that shares our values of quality food at trusted value to bring the magic of M&S Food to Australia for the very first time,” Managing Director of International, Mark Lemming said.
From November 19, Coles will be stocked with the classic M&S Percy Pig Fruit Gums and M&S Colin the Caterpillar Fruit Sours.
There will also be several additional varieties of each character, including Percy Pig Phizzy Pigtails, a fizzy version coated with sugar for extra tang, Percy Pig Piglets, a miniature version of the classic Percy Pig, and Percy Pig Reversy Percy, the iconic sweet flipped to feature more of the gummy part with less foam.
With the additional Colin the Caterpillar varieties, customers can also grab Fruit Gums, Party Time, Cola Gums and Cherry Gums.
Each bag is priced at $6.
M&S launched the original Percy Pig in 1992, and in the more than 30 years since it hit shelves, the vegan lolly has become a “cultural British icon”.
Percy’s popularity spans millions of TikTok views, with high-profile fans including Olivia Rodrigo, Sir Andy Murray and Harry Styles.
It is also a “must-try” confectionary item for tourists, though Australians will no longer have to fly 15,000kms to get their fix.
