Kendal's early prosperity was based largely on cloth manufacture. In the
19th century it became a centre for the manufacture of snuff and shoes; the K
Shoes company remained a major employer in the town until its factory closed in
2003. There are still a number of industries based in the town, such as Gilbert
Gilkes & Gordon (manufacturers of pumps and turbines), James Cropper paper
makers, based in Burneside, Mardix (switchgear), Lakeland and Heinz, who have a
facility making baby milk in the north of the town. Though tourism is now one
of the main employers, there is a significant IT and design sector in the
