They’ve amassed a cult fanbase.

And it’ll be first come, first served on the middle aisle at Aldi when a selection of Squishee toys arrive in stores across Cork next week.

Not familiar with the trend? Here’s the lowdown: Squishees first originated in Japan and according to The New York Times “exploded in popularity” during the pandemic.

In recent months, they’ve become a social media sensation with young people showcasing the toys on TikTok. Videos bearing the hashtag #squishtok have generated more than 1.4 billion views on the app alone.

On Instagram, there are over 3.3 million posts with the hashtag #squishy.

“Made from a soft foam material, they are super huggable with some fans saying they offer comfort and warmth and others noting they can help alleviate stress and anxiety.” said an Aldi spokesperson.

“Additionally, they come in various shapes, characters, and designs – little wonder then that some fans have amassed huge collections numbering in the hundreds!”

Aldi can confirm that a selection of Squishee toys will arrive in stores from September 8th, including an adorable miniature Squishee Keyring (€3.99) available in a number of cute designs; Space Squishees (€9.99) that are truly out of this world; and the highly coveted XL Squishees (€24.99).

“Be warned: these are only available while stocks last,” they added.