Sir Jim Walker, CBE, Director at Walker’s Shortbread, has been recognised with the 2024 Wallace Award in the USA for his contributions to the food industry, and his pivotal role in elevating a beloved Scottish product to an international stage.
Sir Jim was presented with the award by the American-Scottish Foundation (ASF) in New York on 1st November, at an event which honours Scottish heritage and culture and celebrates transatlantic relationships between Scotland and the US.
He was congratulated for his work to bring a taste of ‘Scotland’s finest’ shortbread to overseas markets – with millions of Walker’s products enjoyed every year in the USA.
Walker’s Shortbread first began exporting to America almost 50 years ago and the company opened its first international office in Long Island, New York in 1995, with all shortbread made and imported from its Speyside home in the Scottish Highlands – as it is to this day.
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Walker’s has now become a much-loved brand in the US, available in all major supermarkets, independent and speciality stores, with products sold in all 50 states, from Alaska to Hawaii.
Sir Jim Walker – who is the grandson of Walker’s Shortbread’s founder Joseph Walker – has helped develop the 126-year-old family business alongside his late brother Joe and sister Marjorie, from a village bakery selling in Aberlour in the Scottish Highlands, to an international company represented in almost 100 countries.
On receiving the award, Sir Jim said: “This is a humbling recognition of the collective efforts of the Walker’s Shortbread team and the support of our customers in America, which I’m incredibly grateful for. It’s testament to the enduring legacy of our family business and our commitment to providing exceptional products which capture the true essence of Scotland.
“People have a deep appreciation for heritage brands, because it represents a connection to the past, a sense of tradition, and a commitment to quality craftsmanship.
“Our shortbread has been a part of countless lives for more than 125 years, and we’re honoured to continue that legacy by offering a taste of Scotland to the world.”
In the past 67 years, the ASF has become a leading voice within the Scottish-American community, supporting and amplifying a love of Scotland, its heritage and culture.
The annual dinner follows the mission set out by founder Lord Malcolm Douglas Hamilton, that the American Scottish Foundation be a bridge between the United States and Scotland.
Camilla G Hellman MBE, President American Scottish Foundation, said: “The American-Scottish Foundation’s Wallace Award was established in 1970 to recognise those extraordinary individuals of Scottish descent who have made a difference in the world.
“This year, the board unanimously selected Sir Jim Walker for his contributions to transatlantic relations and the influence he has had on the world of food and drink.
“More importantly, we wanted to recognise his continued support of the Scottish-American diaspora, wherever in the world they may be. Sir Jim Walker is truly an Ambassador of Scotland.”
Walker’s Shortbread has undergone a successful packaging rebrand in recent years – but its products are still baked with the same simple recipe passed down through the generations – featuring the iconic Walker’s tartan but with a sleek, modern twist suitable for today’s consumer.
Provenance, quality and heritage have always been central to the Walker’s brand and is part of what makes it so popular across the globe.
