Now Nat trolls target Walkers shortbread!
Online flak over firm’s Union Flag tin
AS ONE of Scotland’s most iconic brands, it has been producing world-famous shortbread for well over a century.
But Walkers has been forced to defend a special edition box featuring the Union Flag following a stream of abuse from online activists.
In response, the company issued a statement explaining that the tin was part of a new ‘keepsake’ range – with other designs featuring the Saltire, Scottie dogs and Edinburgh buses.
It came following a stream of online abuse aimed at the firm, with some nationalists calling for a boycott of the brand which is sold world-wide.
Alison Brown, an SNP and independence supporter, was the first to post about the tin, which she spotted in Germany.
She posted a picture of the box on her Facebook page, saying: ‘It breaks my heart. This is how Walkers are marketing our famous shortbread in Germany. Our hard-won Scottish branding is being systematically destroyed. For what? To protect their Union. I feel so sad and angry.’
Her post sparked fury, with followers sharing the message 1,000 times. Many shared her anger over the decision by Walkers to use the Union Flag on the tin.
Twitter user Robbiethecelt said: ‘Yet another company goes on my blacklist of products. Ah well, bye, bye Walkers shortbread. You sellout rats.’
Another wrote: ‘Britwashing the Scottish brand. Shameful. Along with Tunnock’s, Walkers shortbread will no longer be welcome in my household. Plenty of other proud Scottish manufacturers.’
Chris McCusker, who describes himself as Nicola’s No1 Comrade and has a picture of him with the SNP leader on his Twitter page, said: ‘To the owners of Walkers shortbread, how can you sleep at night knowing that you are doing Scotland a great disservice by branding a Scottish product with the butchers apron? Have you no ethics or morals whtsoever?’
Yesterday, Walkers, which is based in Aberlour on Spey, Moray, issued a statement saying: ‘The Walker family would like to clarify that the Union Jack Keepsake tin is one of many tins currently available, each of which is designed to celebrate an array of places and events and includes the launch of the Love Scotland Keepsake range at the start of the year.
‘We strive continuously to offer a wide range of products to suit our global customer base.’
The firm also said it had ‘great pride in our Scottish heritage’ and pledged to continue ‘manufacturing in Scotland for the long run’.
The latest attack on Scottish companies comes after independence supporters previously called for a boycott of Tunnock’s after adverts described its iconic snack as a ‘Great British Tea Cake’.
Nationalists staged a protest outside the Lanarkshire-based company’s HQ and called for a boycott. But it was later revealed the protest had backfired, with Tunnock’s sales soaring.
There have also been calls for boycotts of shops including Tesco, after a Union Flag was placed on Scottish produce.
Last night, Glasgow Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: ‘The laughable outrage is so typical of cybernats. They tried the same pathetic behaviour towards Tunnock’s when they dared to include the UK flag on products.
‘What these people need to remember is, there’s more to life than a piece of shortbread.’
Walkers was founded in 1898 when the 21-year-old Joseph Walker opened his own bakery with a loan of £50 and the ambition to bake ‘the world’s finest shortbread’.