Walker's Shortbread's Sir James Walker dies aged 80

 

Better known as Jim, he played a massive role in the growth of the company from a small, 1898 founded family bakery in Aberlour into an award-winning exporter of Scottish biscuits alongside his brother Joe and sister Marjorie as joint Managing Directors. Jim Walker was was responsible for sales and marketing and developed the Walker’s brand across the world.

The company grow from a turnover of 40,000 GBP in the year he joined to GBP 184 m in 2023. During all this time, Jim Walker remained loyal to ISM into old age. He was the prize winner of the prestigious ISM Award 2016. In his laudatory speech, Oskar A. Kambly, emphasised his loyalty to the family, the employees and the sales partners in equal measures. And in 2022, Sir Jim was given a knighthood in the late Queen Elizabeth's final birthday honour’s list and was awarded it by King Charles for services to the food industry.

He recently stepped aside from his main responsibilities to an ambassadorial and advisory role and allowed members of the fourth generation of his family, including three of his children, to take on the management of the company.

A spokesperson for Walker’s Shortbread said: “Beyond his professional legacy, Jim will be remembered for his warmth, humility, and generosity of spirit – a person who took genuine interest in others and who was well loved in the business and the wider community. He will always be remembered as a devoted, energetic and kind man who was an inspiration to many who knew him. We will honour his memory by continuing to uphold the values and legacy he built over a lifetime of dedication.”