This week, the Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, Andrew Simpson, visited Aberlour House to formally present Walker’s Shortbread with The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
At a special ceremony on behalf of His Majesty The King, the Lord-Lieutenant presented the commemorative crystal trophy to the Walker's team. The prestigious accolade recognises Walker’s substantial and sustained commercial growth in global markets, which has seen the brand export its premium, tartan-packaged products from Speyside to nearly 100 countries worldwide.
The King’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious business honour with Walker’s Shortbread noted as one of only eight Scottish firms to receive the recognition this year. The milestone marks the fifth time Walker’s has been recognised for its export achievements, having previously received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement on four occasions, making it the most awarded food brand in this category’s history.
From its production bases in Speyside, Walker’s remains one of the Highlands’ largest employers, supporting over 1,400 jobs in the region.
The award highlights Walker’s Shortbread’s success in exporting its luxury bakery products and iconic tartan-branded packaging, which has become synonymous with both premium shortbread and Scotland itself. Through a combination of heritage, quality and innovation, Walker’s Shortbread continues to bring a taste of Scotland to customers worldwide.
Accepting the award, Nicky Walker, Managing Director at Walker’s Shortbread, said: "It was both a privilege and an honour to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire to Aberlour House and officially receive The King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. This is a proud milestone for Walker’s Shortbread, and it is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team to uphold the standards of quality and innovation that my family has stood for since my great-grandfather started the business.
"From our home in Speyside, we have taken the finest Scottish baking to the world. This award celebrates not only our commercial success but also our role as ambassadors for Scottish craftsmanship."
Andrew Simpson, Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, added: “It was a great pleasure to present this award to Walker’s Shortbread. While this prestigious accolade officially recognises their outstanding international trade success, Walker's also remains a cornerstone of our local community. Their continued growth is a brilliant achievement for the entire company based here in Speyside.”