Walkers shortbread cookies are known the world over for their fine taste. How did Walkers Shortbread get started?

Young 21-year-old Joseph Walker set out with a dream: producing the world's finest shortbread. He wanted to open his own bakery. The ambitious lad had few resources and had to borrow the money to start his shortbread business.

Joseph's first year was spent perfecting his shortbread recipe. Soon, locals were discovering that Joseph's cookies stood out from the rest and demand grew.

So much so that Joseph had to move his business elsewhere. A horse and a cart were used to deliver his shortbread further afield.

In the following decades, a range of cakes were introduced and were delivered via a delivery van. In spite of the turbulent War years, Walkers Shortbread hung on, largely, in part to the quality of the shortbread products produced. Joseph's sons learned the business inside and out and provided a range of Walkers shortbread cookies and oatcakes.

Now, everyone knows that butter gives shortbread its distinctive flavor. Right? Apparently, some manufacturers did not. They began to cut corners and substituted margarine instead.

Joseph, however,held fast to his belief that quality shortbread could only be made using butter. He wanted Walkers Shortbread to retain the taste and texture it was famous for.

After Joseph's death, his sons continued their father's commitment to Walkers shortbread cookies and stuck to the original recipe. They were right on target. The business kept growing and Joesph's three children continued to produce Walkers shortbread cookies and other quality products.

Local shops began stocking Walkers Shortbread and the company had to incorporate machinery and add workers to keep up with the demand. But, Walkers shortbread products were baked to the highest standard.

These efforts paid off. Soon, Walkers shortbread cookies and cakes made their way onto the shelves of Britain's finest stores.

More changes were in the making. With increased success, Walkers Shortbread had to make additional adjustments. Exciting changes meant a new factory and more recipes! Chocolate chip shortbread and specialty cookies were produced and tested on the villagers of Aberlour.

Walkers has continued to delight customers with their traditional shortbread and new Walkers recipes, such as almond and ginger shortbread and, for choc-a-holics, chocolate covered shortbread. Imagine shortbread made with white chocolate or raspberries?

Joseph would be proud to know that his cookies and cakes remain true to his vision, containing no preservatives or flavorings and made with the finest ingredients.

Fourth-generation Walkers remain steadfast and will not sacrifice quality, making the traditional Walkers pure butter shortbread.

• Walkers shortbread cookies and cakes have garnered five Gold Mondiale Awards, among others.

Walkers shortbread cookies and other products come packaged in an unmistakable red tartan.

The tradition carries on in recent times. In the 1970s Joseph Walker's grandchildren began exporting Walkers Shortbread to countries around the world, using the original recipe.

In short order, they won three Queen's Awards for Export Achievement.