Kevin the Carrot returns in McCann Manchester’s final Aldi Christmas ad

McCann in Manchester has launched its last Christmas campaign for Aldi.

Kevin the Carrot is back for an eleventh year, and this time the festivities look set to be put on hold because the family dog, Cauli, has gone missing.

The ad begins with Kevin’s daughter, Chantenay, writing a note saying the only thing she wants for Christmas is for Cauli to come home safely. The search leads to adventures involving scarecrows, squirrels and more.

The story ends happily, with Aldi’s festive endline: “All You Want For Christmas”.

Kristin Sonfield, marketing director at Aldi UK, said: “Kevin has become a much-loved part of Christmas for so many families, so we’re thrilled to have him back on our screens alongside Chantenay and Cauli Dog.”

She added: “Their latest adventure brings plenty of festive fun, familiar faces and, of course, a little bit of Christmas chaos. But at its heart is a lovely reminder that, for all the presents and celebrations, the real magic of Christmas comes from spending it with the people who matter most.”

Last month it emerged that McCann Manchester would no longer handle Aldi’s creative account, ending a relationship of more than 20 years. The supermarket has not yet confirmed its replacement.

“Kevin the Carrot was just a seed in the McCann Manchester allotment back in 2016,” said Dave Price, chief creative officer at McCANN in Manchester.

“If I’m honest, I thought we’d get 2 or 3 years out of him at best. But here we are, 11 years later with a Christmas icon. The McCann team feel incredibly lucky that the British public have taken Kevin into their hearts. I hope everyone enjoys this year’s story as much as we’ve loved creating every single one of Kevin’s adventures. It’s been a privilege.”