Andy Devaney
If you’ve ever wanted your moment of public heartbreak to come with a job offer and an unlimited supply of breaded comfort, Aldi has just set the bar. Four-year-old Rory Smith from Tividale, West Midlands, has landed a “mini nugget tasting” gig after a video of him crying when his dad pinched a chicken nugget at a Wolverhampton Wanderers match went viral — the kind of modern fairy tale that begins with tears and ends with dips.
Rory’s emotional rise to nugget stardom arrived at suspiciously perfect timing. Just days before his now-famous wobble-lip moment did the rounds, Aldi launched a nationwide hunt for its first-ever Nugget Taster, leaning into Britain’s long-running, deep-fried love affair. The numbers are hefty: more than 164 million chicken nuggets sold at Aldi in the past year alone, which is either an impressive retail stat or a national cry for help—depending on what you had for lunch.
Aldi’s social team clocked Rory’s clip and, faster than you can say “breadcrumb coating,” decided they’d found their ideal candidate. Instead of letting the “stolen nugget” tragedy become one more internet footnote, they offered Rory a role that feels like the sort of job you’d invent when you’re four: official taster, chief thumbs-up officer, and defender of the box.
From viral tears to nugget tiers
Rory, who lives with mum Claire and sister Ferne, 8, will be sampling Aldi’s chicken nugget range and handing down the only verdict that really matters in the nugget economy: does it deserve a happy face or a howl?
His dad, Tom Smith, a Tree Surgeon, sounds like a man who has learned a hard lesson about snack-time ethics in public places.
Tom Smith said: “The response to the video has been incredible. Rory is delighted to be an official chicken nugget taster, it means lots more nuggets for him, and none for me. I’ll definitely think twice before stealing one again.”
That’s parenting in 2026: one ill-advised nick of a nugget and suddenly your child has a title, a tasting brief, and—if we’re honest—a stronger negotiating position than most CEOs.
Aldi’s nugget mission: replace one stolen bite “tenfold”
Aldi’s Chief Commercial Officer Julie Ashfield leaned into the serendipity of the whole thing, and the supermarket has been quick to make amends in the only language that matters here: more nuggets.
Ashfield said: “We had only just launched our search for our first official Nugget Taster when we saw Rory’s video, and it felt like perfect timing. His love for nuggets really struck a chord with people across the UK. We’re delighted to be replacing his stolen nugget tenfold.”
If that doesn’t restore faith in the universe, at the very least it restores faith in the freezer aisle.
Meet the other official taster: a household “chief nugget buyer”
Rory won’t be crunching his way through the assignment alone. He’ll be joined by competition winner Lorna Funnell, 35, from Buxted, East Sussex, who beat hundreds of applicants in Aldi’s nationwide search. Judges were impressed by her nugget dedication, including her self-appointed status as the one who calls the nugget shots at home—across chicken and veggie varieties.
Lorna said: “I’m a huge nugget fan, so being an official taster really is a dream come true. I can’t wait to get stuck in. I’ll be saving the Love Nuggets for Valentine’s Day.”
There’s romance, and then there’s heart-shaped nuggets with a special ketchup—modern love in a cardboard sleeve.
What Rory and Lorna will be tasting at Aldi
The duo will review flavour, crunch, texture and overall enjoyment across Aldi’s nugget line-up, including:
- Oakhurst Chicken Nuggets with Dips (£1.79, 300g)
- Roosters Chicken Nuggets in Breadcrumbs (£1.65, 450g)
And for those who like their Valentine’s Day with a side of whimsy, Aldi is bringing back its popular heart-shaped bites:
- Share the Love ‘Love Nuggets’ with Date Ketchup (£2.99, 350g) — landing in stores from 11th February as part of Aldi’s Valentine’s Day range
The Love Nuggets have already built a fanbase, with shoppers previously posting excited reactions in Facebook groups including New Foods UK and Snack Reviews.
When can shoppers buy them?
Aldi’s chicken nuggets are available in stores now, with Love Nuggets landing in stores from 11th February while stocks last.
