Colman's Mustard put up for sale ahead of merger

Colman's Mustard, a Norfolk-based condiment brand, has been put up for sale ahead of a proposed merger between parent company Unilever and McCormick.

The sale comes before the planned combination of Unilever Foods and McCormick in a deal believed to be worth £48bn.

Colman's Mustard has been deeply rooted in Norfolk since its founding by Jeremiah Colman at Stoke Holy Cross in 1814. The company had a factory in Norwich for 160 years before production moved to Carrow in 1858.

A Unilever spokesperson said the decision was taken to market the Colman's brand and assets to potential buyers in order to proactively seek to address potential competition concerns from the planned combination of Unilever Foods and McCormick.

Colman's workers were photographed leaving work in about 1910. The company had a cradle-to-grave ethos and provided education, housing, healthcare and leisure for workers and their families.

The wider deal will see McCormick take control of household names including Hellmann's, Marmite, Knorr and Pot Noodle. Unilever will focus on home and personal care with brands including Dove, Persil and Lynx.

Unilever shifted manufacturing to Burton-on-Trent and Germany after the Carrow site was left vacant since it closed its doors in 2020 after the last jar of Colman's Mustard rolled off the production line in 2019.

The American food giant already owns French's — one of the world's biggest rival mustard brands.

A Unilever spokesperson said discussions are ongoing and operations continue as usual.

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Mustard-making legacy grows with £5m mill expansion

Colman's: More than a mustard The sale comes before a proposed merger between parent company Unilever and McCormick.

A famous mustard brand synonymous with Norwich has been put up for sale.

A school was built on Carrow Hill in 1864 for employees' children and the firm supplied coffins for workers and their families

The wider deal will see McCormick take control of household names including Hellmann's, Marmite, Knorr and Pot N