Colman’s Mustard, a condiment brand with deep historical ties to Norwich, has been put on the market by its parent company Unilever. The decision comes as Unilever prepares for a planned combination with American food company McCormick in a transaction valued at approximately £48bn. Unilever stated the marketing of the brand and its associated assets is intended to address potential competition concerns that may arise from the merger.
The mustard company has maintained a significant presence in Norfolk since its founding in 1814 by Jeremiah Colman in Stoke Holy Cross. Production relocated to Carrow in 1858, where the brand remained central to the local community for generations. The Carrow facility operated under a model that extended company support across multiple dimensions of workers’ lives, including education, healthcare, housing and recreational services. A school was constructed on Carrow Hill in 1864 to serve employees’ children, and the firm provided various other benefits including coffins for workers and their families, along with distinctive terrace housing painted in the company’s signature mustard yellow.
Manufacturing operations at the Carrow site ceased in recent years, with the final production run completed in 2019 and the facility shutting down in 2020. Unilever subsequently transferred production to facilities in Burton-on-Trent and Germany. The 42-acre site has remained unused since closure and has been designated for residential development. However, the broader legacy of Colman’s production in the Norwich area has continued through Condimentum, a separate operation located at the Food Enterprise Park in Easton, which maintains production of raw materials for the brand.
As part of the broader Unilever-McCormick combination, McCormick will acquire various established food brands including Hellmann’s, Marmite, Knorr and Pot Noodle. McCormick already controls French’s, a major competitor in the mustard market. Following the reorganization, Unilever intends to concentrate its operations on home and personal care products featuring brands such as Dove, Persil and Lynx. A Unilever spokesperson indicated that discussions regarding the Colman’s sale remain ongoing while normal business operations continue.
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