Henry James Walker

Henry James Walker was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. His father Mark Walker owned a butchers shop in the town, called 'Walker and Son's in 1824. ^{[1] [2]}

Mark and Henry moved to Leicester to set up a new butchers shop in the 1880s. Their speciality was pork pies. However, during World War II meat became scarce and production dramatically reduced. In 1947 they started looking at alternate products initially frying potatoes to make crisps. Walkers Crisps was founded in 1948 by Henry. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

References

1. "Walkers Crisps". The Heart of the Midlands. Design Quiet Storm Solutions. 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
2. Grant, Tina; Thomson Gale, (Firm). (2005). International directory of company histories. Vol. 70 (Book). Detroit United States: St James Press. p. 350. ISBN   1558626069 . Retrieved 24 January 2026.(registration required)
3. "The People Behind Potatoes from Walkers founding father to our friendly supply farmers people are the secret to our success". Walkers Crisps. Leicester: Walkers. 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
4. "How a Local Butcher Accidentally Built the Walker's Crisps Empire". Youtube. British Time Capsule. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
5. Ruddy, Austin. "Walkers original: crisps from a can Leicester souvenir memorabilia is thought to date from the start of Walkers Crisps". Leicestershire Live. Leicester: Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 21 January 2026.