Editing Uttoxeter (section)

==Economy==
In 1945, [[Joseph Cyril Bamford]] founded J C Bamford Excavators Limited in Uttoxeter, now known as [[JCB (heavy equipment manufacturer)|JCB]]. The firm, based in the nearby village of Rocester, is the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer.<ref name="yorkshirepost">{{Cite news |date=15 July 2010 |title=JCB reaps reward for 'tough action' as profits show a rise |work=The Yorkshire Post |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/JCB-reaps-reward-for-39tough.6422560.jp |access-date=18 August 2010}}</ref> The firm's first vehicle was a tipping trailer made from war-surplus materials, which J. C. Bamford built in a rented lock-up garage in Uttoxeter. The Bamford family had previously started Bamfords, later Bamford International Farm Machinery which was a large employer in the town from the end of the 19th century through to the early 1980s, when it gradually declined before closing in 1989. The land and former building were acquired by JCB for its "Special Products" division. This has now closed and the buildings have been demolished, but the site has yet to be redeveloped. JCB has other factories in Uttoxeter, [[Cheadle, Staffordshire|Cheadle]], [[Foston, Derbyshire|Foston]] and [[Wrexham]], and abroad in the United States and India.

Elkes Biscuits, previously [[Fox's Biscuits]], has a factory in Uttoxeter. Elkes was the creator of the [[malted milk (biscuit)|malted milk]] biscuit. Glennans Crisps, specialising in vegetable crisps, is based in the town. It was bought by [[Tyrrells (crisps)|Tyrrells Crisps]] in 2012.

[[Uttoxeter Racecourse]], home to the [[Midlands Grand National]], brings visitors to the town centre shops and markets. Proximity to the [[Alton Towers Resort]], [[St George's Park National Football Centre|St. George's Park National Football Centre]] and the [[Peak District]] National Park means tourism is important to the local economy.

Agriculture remains important, as the town is set in rich [[dairy farming]] country. Uttoxeter previously housed a large dairy and was historically a major trader in butter and cheese. The farming cooperative [[Dairy Farmers of Britain]] had another large dairy in the nearby village of [[Fole]], but this closed in 2008<ref name="CrisisDeepens">{{Cite news |date=16 June 2009 |title=Crisis Deepens for Dairy Farmers |publisher=BBC News  |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8103325.stm |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> and the firm went into administration the next year.<ref name=CrisisDeepens /> A new cattle market was due to be built in the town after the old one was demolished in 2004, having stood dormant since the [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak|2001 foot and mouth outbreak]]. No progress was made and it is now unlikely after ten years that the town will regain one,<ref name="WhiteElephant">{{Cite news |date=5 February 2010 |title=Cattle Market a 'White Elephant' |work=[[Uttoxeter Advertiser]] |publisher=Staffordshire Newspapers Ltd. |url=http://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/News/Cattle-market-a-white-elephant.htm |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> the land now having been redeveloped into a pedestrianised shopping area, composed of an [[Asda]] store, GP surgery and retail outlets.

===Recent development===
[[File:Uttoxeter - Market Square.jpg|thumb|2017 – Uttoxeter Market Square]]
Uttoxeter town centre underwent a development scheme in 2006–2007, with the Market Place, Market Street, Queens Street, Carter Street, and High Street receiving new stone paving and street furniture.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 2009 |title=Thank You All for Your Patience |work=Uttoxeter Advertiser |publisher=Staffordshire Newspapers Ltd |url=http://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/News/Thank-you-all-for-your-patience.htm |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Uttoxeter Waitrose.jpg|thumb|Waitrose, Uttoxeter opened 2016]]
Phased development of Dovefields Retail Park began in 1998 with a [[Tesco]] supermarket on the edge of the town and expansion in 2002 with seven large retail outlets. In 2005 an entertainment development with a bowling alley, an ice rink, a cinema, a children's crèche, a fitness centre and business units was built.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 2009 |title=Cinema Project Takes Shape |work=Uttoxeter Advertiser |publisher=Staffordshire Newspapers Ltd |url=http://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/News/Cinema-project-takes-shape.htm |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref>

The old Cattle Market closed in November 2005 in favour of a retail and housing development, Carter Square, opening in 2014. This features a supermarket, a range of smaller retail units and a medical surgery.

The replacement cattle market, granted planning permission on the outskirts of the town, failed to appear after several years. A municipal recycling depot has opened on part of the site.

The JCB site in the centre of Uttoxeter was demolished in 2009 after the firm moved to one of its sites on the edge of town. This site is currently undergoing redevelopment: a [[Waitrose]] store opened there in 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youruttoxeter.com/waitrose-set-bring-180-jobs-uttoxeter|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913071405/http://www.youruttoxeter.com/waitrose-set-bring-180-jobs-uttoxeter/|archive-date=2014-09-13|title=Waitrose set to bring 180 jobs to Uttoxeter}}</ref> and an [[Aldi]] store opened there in 2022. The Lidl store, previously located between Dovefields Retail Park and the town centre relocated several hundred meters along the road to a new unit built on land previously used for light industry. Plans have been approved for hundreds of homes, a park and business units.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 February 2010 |title=JCB Plan Under Fire by Residents |work=Uttoxeter Advertiser |publisher=Staffordshire Newspapers Ltd |url=http://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/News/JCB-plan-under-fire-by-residents.htm |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref>

In 2019, the Uttoxeter Brewing Company began licensed operations in a purpose built property sharing the car park of the White Hart Hotel in the town centre, the first commercial brewing operations in the town since the closure of Bunting's Brewery in 1929.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uttoxeter Brewing Company, Uttoxeter |url=http://www1.camra.org.uk/pubs/uttoxeter-brewing-company-uttoxeter-128071 |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=CAMRA Experience |language=en}}</ref>