A tale of two Christmas ads: ALDI and John Lewis

The Christmas ad campaign by retailer John Lewis is a big, fat, "highly anticipated" thing in the UK, and the company is reportedly spending US$10.5 million on production and media for this year's high-concept 'Man in the moon' spot by Adam & Eve/DDB.

It's meant to be a tearjerker, but leaves Ad Nut completely unmoved, even as Ad Nut appreciates the sentiment about reaching out to distant loved ones or those less lucky during the holidays.

Campaign UK has more than you probably wanted to know about the ad.

In Australia, ALDI's annual Christmas campaign is not as hotly anticipated, but the grocer and its creative agency, BMF, have been making a good effort for a few years now. Here's last year's ad, and the brand's famous surfing santas from 2012.

This year, ALDI focused on the madness of the season in a madcap, quick-cut spot, which seems to acknowledge that Christmas tends to creep up on you when it falls in the summertime. This is more Ad Nut's speed.

Need more Christmas ads? Campaign UK has you covered.

ALDI CREDITS

Executive Creative Director: Cam Blackley
Creative Director: Alex Derwin
Art Director: Dantie Van Der Merwe
Copywriter: David Fraser
Planning Director: Ali Tilling
Managing Director: Stephen McArdle
Client Services Director: Daniel Lacaze
Account Directors: Aisling Colley, Peitra Withaar
Account Managers: Sid De, Harriet Cockill
Agency Producer: Jenny Lee-Archer
Head of Design: Lincoln Grice
Designer: Matthew Hughes

Production Company: The Otto Empire
Director: Justin Reardon
Post Production and VFX: The Editors
Music and Sound Production: Rumble Studios
Sound design: Tone Aston
Media: Maxus

Client:
Marketing Director: Sam Viney