Coles and Woolworths bakery strike threatens supply of iconic supermarket mudcake
One of Australia’s most iconic supermarket desserts could be in the firing line as workers at a major national bakery hang up their aprons in protest over pay.
Allied Pinnacle, the baking giant behind supermarket staples like caramel slices, rocky road doughnuts, and the beloved chocolate mud cake, is facing rising heat, not in the oven, but on the picket line.
The Daily Mail reported that on Wednesday, around 150 workers at the company’s Altona site, just outside Melbourne, walked off the job in a 48-hour strike, calling for a 15 per cent wage increase over three years.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The company’s counter-offer? 11.25 per cent, not exactly the icing on the cake.
“Wages with a 3 or a 4 in front of them just don’t cut it,” said United Workers Union’s Adam Auld, citing the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“This strike should send a clear message… workers need real wage increases and respect.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Altona employees are also demanding a fix to their significantly lower night shift loading, just 19 per cent, compared to 30 per cent at other company sites.
The strike follows months of tense negotiations, with talks dragging on since September 2024.
Union reps say this week’s action is only the beginning, warning of further walkouts if a deal isn’t baked into reality soon.
Despite the drama, Coles has done its best to calm nervous cake lovers, assuring customers there’s no mud cake shortage on the horizon.
“In good news… we have plenty of mud cakes,” a spokesperson said, clearly aware of the national stakes.
Allied Pinnacle, which supplies baked goods to over 3000 businesses across the country, says it respects its workers’ right to strike and is working to ensure shelves stay stocked.
But the union isn’t backing down.
“If there’s no movement,” Mr Auld warned, “workers will come together to decide on further action.”
For now, the mud cakes are safe.
But if negotiations don’t rise soon, the next thing to crumble might be supermarket supply chains and Australia’s birthday party plans.
