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Type | Mustard |
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Current owner | Unilever |
Country of origin | ![]() |
Introduced | 1814 |
Previous owners | Reckitt Benckiser |
Website | http://www.colmansmustard.com |
Colman's is a UK manufacturer of mustard and various other sauces, based at Carrow, near Norwich, Norfolk. Though a series of acquisitions have led to the present ownership by the multinational Unilever company Colman's remains a brand famous for a limited range of products, almost all varieties of mustard.
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History
Colman's of Norwich was founded in 1814 and is one of the oldest existing food brands. Colman's is now owned by Unilever. Colman's tangy flavour comes from a blend of brown mustard (Brassica juncea) and white mustard (Sinapis alba).
Jeremiah Colman began making mustard at a water mill near Norwich in the village of Bawburgh. He founded the Colman's mustard company in 1814, at the Stoke Holy Cross mill on the River Tas, four miles south of Norwich.[1] In 1823 he took his adopted nephew, James, into the business which became J. & J. Colman.[1]
In 1851 J.J. Coleman took over the business.[1] By 1865 production had transferred to a large factory at Carrow on land bought from the Norfolk Railway Company to the south of Norwich,[1] where the firm still operates today.
From 1855 the firm introduced its distinctive yellow packaging and bull's head logo, and in 1866 was granted the Royal Warrant as manufacturers of mustard to Queen Victoria.[1] Her Majesty’s household still uses Colman’s today.
The Colman family's pioneering achievements in social welfare are part of Norwich's history. In 1857 a school was opened for the employees' children,[1] while in 1864 the firm employed a nurse to help sick members of staff - a social revolution at the time.[1]
From 1896 Sir Jeremiah Colman became Chairman:[2] in 1903, under his leadership, the firm took over rival mustard maker Keen Robinson & Company (makers of Keen's Mustard),[1] through which it also acquired the Robinsons Lemon Barley Water brand and baby food business. In 1938 it merged with Reckitts to form the Reckitt & Colman household products conglomerate (now Reckitt Benckiser).[1]
In 1973 Colmans opened The Mustard Shop in Norwich to mark the 150th anniversary of Jeremiah Colman taking his nephew James into partnership.[1] Now relocated to the Royal Arcade, The Mustard Shop has become a tourist attraction, alongside being a marketing outlet. The company formerly maintained a large collection of antique silver mustard pots.
The Colman's part of the business was demerged in 1995 and Colman's became part of Unilever UK Ltd.[1] As well as mustard, it applies its name to condiments, sauces and other foodstuffs.
Colman's is one of the British icon brands sold around the world through network of distributors managed by Unilever's own export department based in Crawley, UK. (Unilever UK Export)
Colman's maintains links with Norwich. The founding family are commemorated in street-names such as Colman Road (part of the A140 inner ring road), on which is situated Colman's First and Middle Schools. The company has sponsored Norwich City Football Club in the past, with the Colman's name appearing on the shirts.
Publicity
Colman's advertising has been quite effective in maintaining demand for the brand. In the 1920s Dorothy L. Sayers worked on their account and media slogans such as "Come on Colman's, light my fire" appeared in the late 20th century. Sayers was employed by S. H. Benson, her collaboration with artist John Gilroy resulted in "The Mustard Club" for Colman's Mustard.
Product range (21st century)
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20100327062620im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Buckinghamshire_Railway_Colmans_advert.jpg/220px-Buckinghamshire_Railway_Colmans_advert.jpg)
- Colman's English Mustard 50g
- Colman's English Mustard 100g
- Colman's English Mustard 170g
- Colman's English Mustard Squeeze 150g
- Colman's Hot Honey Mustard
- Colman's Mustard Powder
- Colman's Wholegrain mustard 150ml
- Colman's Dijon mustard 150ml
- Colman's Mild Mustard
- Colman's Condiments
- Colman's Pour overs
- Colman's Dry Sauces
- Colman's Special Sauces
References
External links
- Colman's Official Website
- Colman's USA Page
- Colman's New Zealand Official Website
- The Bawburgh Mill
- Mustard shop to shut? News item
- The Stoke Holy Cross Mill