Liverpool baker hits out at free cake for Love Island star request

A Liverpool bakery has criticised companies she claims have contacted her asking for free cakes in exchange for publicity on TV and social media.

Baker Laura Worthington says she was approached by a talent agency managing Love Island star Malin Andersson, and separately by the X Factor, about the possibility of a collaboration.

“I wasn't kidding when I said this happens a lot,” she posted on Twitter. “The downside to being near the top of Google search for 'cake makers in Liverpool'.”

In another post she wrote: “I will never bow down to this kind of stuff and I feel sorry for the poor company that did. Just pay for people's services for God's sake!”

Ms Worthington shared a message she says she received from Touch Management asking if she could provide a free cake, “the bigger the better”, for Ms Andersson’s boyfriend’s birthday party.

“In exchange she will post a few pics on her social media tagging your brand - she has a combined following of about 630,000 followers on Instagram and Twitter so it’s brilliant promo,” it said.

The baker responded: “I can fit this in with you but it would be a paid order as it would be for anyone else, including the many high profile customers I already have.”

Touch Management responded: “A lot of people we work with are extremely happy to do this in exchange for social promotion as this kind of promo would usually cost brands £500 per post.”

Ms Worthington, who runs Laura’s Little Bakery, replied: “Exposure doesn’t pay my bills and I’ll be honest I think it’s a disgrace that companies like you go to small independent businesses asking for free stuff regardless of what you think the promo might do for their business, which is in fact not a lot, I can assure you.”

Touch Management has been contacted for comment.

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