Nadine Walters Cake Scandal: $7 Woolies Mud Cakes Sold for $180, September 17

Nadine Walters, a 38-year-old home baker running Mrs Walters Wonderful Cakes from Morwell in south-east Victoria, has been accused of purchasing $7 Woolworths mud cakes, icing them at home, and charging customers up to $180 for the decorated cakes. The scandal erupted after a customer peeled back the frosting and found the distinctive Woolworths swirl pattern still visible. Multiple buyers have now come forward with complaints ranging from cat hair on cakes to late deliveries and refused refunds.

How the Woolworths cake was discovered

A customer named Sarah ordered what she believed was a homemade cake from Walters and paid $180. When she peeled back the icing, she found the famous swirl pattern unmistakable from Woolworths mud cakes. Sarah told A Current Affair: “The biggest shock is she didn’t even wipe the icing off.” The discovery prompted other customers to share their own complaints on a Traralgon community Facebook page, sparking widespread cancellations of orders.

Pattern of complaints beyond the mud cakes

Customers have accused Walters of delivering cakes covered in cat hair, wrong flavours, and orders arriving late with repeated excuses. Sarah claimed a previous cake she purchased was “covered in cat hair” and said she was “disappointed” after paying for an elaborate cake. The Daily Mail reports that many buyers complained they were never sent refunds for incorrect orders. Walters’ ABN for Mrs Walters Wonderful Cakes has been listed as cancelled since March 2023, according to records.

Walters’ response and refund offers

When approached by A Current Affair, Walters claimed she had no choice but to use Woolworths mud cakes on one occasion because her oven malfunctioned. “I bought layers for a few cakes, that was the end of it,” she said. In a statement, Walters acknowledged responsibility: “I am fully responsible for not being more forthcoming. It was never my intention to deceive anyone.” She said she refunded some customers who received the supermarket mud cakes and confirmed she is registered with food safety authorities. However, multiple customers reported they had not received refunds for cancelled orders.

Escalating tensions and threats

The scandal has intensified beyond social media complaints. Last week, a woman confronted Walters at her Churchill home demanding a refund, with video footage showing the woman yelling threats. Walters posted the confrontation to her business page, which has over 7,000 followers, claiming the woman was seeking a $50 refund after cancelling a cake order. A Current Affair reported that Walters has received a death threat from an angry customer. Walters, a mother-of-three, chased the woman to the end of her property during the confrontation.

Final Thoughts

The Nadine Walters scandal highlights risks in the unregulated home baking market, where customers have limited recourse for quality complaints or refunds. Buyers should verify credentials and seek transparent communication before ordering high-value custom cakes.

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