Upmarket British grocery retailer Waitrose has opened a new store in Uttoxeter.
The new 25,000 sq ft store is the third Waitrose in Staffordshire. The branch has created 120 new jobs.
The store provides the retailer's latest offer, including meat, fish and deli counters, a bakery, a wine department and the John Lewis 'click and collect' service.
It was officially unveiled by JCB chairman Lord Bamford and Andrew Griffiths MP, who joined the store's branch manager Peter Gibbs and his team in welcoming the store's first customers.
The new branch is located on land that used to house JCB's Pinfold Street factory. The site was used for manufacturing for almost 140 years, firstly for agricultural machinery makers Bamfords, and also for JCB Heavy Products.
The opening sees Waitrose launch a number of initiatives to support the local community, including its Community Matters 'green token' scheme. Every month, £1,000 will be donated to local charities chosen by customers with the first organisations confirmed as Scropton Riding School for the Disabled, SV2, which supports victim of sexual violence, and mental-health charity Art and Soul in Uttoxeter.
The branch will also provide 250 hours each year to causes through the Waitrose Partner Volunteering programme, and will offer a community room for use by local not-for-profit organisations.
At the official opening, store manager Peter Gibbs said, “We are proud to be part of the redevelopment of such an important site for Uttoxeter and are very grateful to Andrew and Lord Bamford for joining us at the opening to help mark the occasion."
He continued, “We are looking forward to meeting our new customers, becoming part of the community and providing a fantastic new shopping experience for local residents.”
Lord Bamford said, "The opening of the Waitrose store is a very important step in delivering a development, which will leave a legacy to Uttoxeter for future generations."
Mr Griffiths added, “This new store is a huge boost for the Uttoxeter economy and will help create even more local jobs.”
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