Business

Colman's Mustard Brand Put Up for Sale Ahead of Unilever-McCormick Merger

Colman's Mustard, a brand synonymous with Norwich for 160 years, has been put up for sale ahead of a planned merger between Unilever and American food giant McCormick in a deal believed to be worth £48bn. The company was founded in 1814 by Jeremiah Colman and was deeply rooted in Norfolk, having provided education, housing, healthcare and leisure for workers and their families. A Unilever spokesperson said: "A decision has been 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." The merger of Unilever's food division with McCormick would create one of the world's largest spice and condiment companies. Based outside Norwich, the firm had a cradle-to-grave ethos, building a school for employees' children on Carrow Hill in 1864, supplying coffins for workers and their families, and constructing terrace houses believed to have doors painted mustard yellow.

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