Rising to the Occasion: How Walton’s Bakery Became a Local Staple

After many years spent in roles ranging from travelling salesman to working in construction, Fred Crawford and his wife, Barbara, were eager to find a fulfilling venture they could truly settle into. That opportunity arrived when the original owners of Walton’s Bakery, Gilbert and Dora Walton, decided to sell. Fred didn’t hesitate. “We were looking for a business that was well-established and offered something meaningful to a community,” Fred recalls.

After purchasing the bakery in 1995, Fred moved straight into the kitchen to learn the operation from the ground up, mastering the recipes customers had grown to love, especially their famous brown bread. Over time, he expanded the bakery’s offerings.

“We diversified over the years, adding more products and varieties to our existing lineup, such as multigrain breads, flax loaves, muffin varieties, pot pies, and tea breads,” he explains. As eating habits evolved, Walton’s also introduced diet bread and, more recently, sourdough bread, which quickly became a customer favourite.

For those who enjoy a good “secret menu”, Walton’s Bake Shop has one of its own. “We occasionally get asked to make bread bowls, it’s something we can do, but we don’t advertise it,” Fred shares. If you’re craving the perfect soup pairing this winter, give them a call ahead of time and they’ll happily prepare a batch for you.

Today, after three decades of operating in Riverview, the bakery has grown from a staff of three to a team of seven who help Fred run the day-to-day operations. Fred says the growth has been rewarding, but the support they receive every day is what means the most. “I always appreciate our customers coming in and letting us know how much they appreciate us.”

If you haven’t visited Walton’s Bakery yet, now’s the perfect time. Stop in to try their breads, or pick up some gingerbread and shortbread cookies for the holidays. While you’re there, be sure to congratulate them on 30 years of serving our community.