Colman's

frameless An old Colman's advert at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
Product type	Mustard
Owner	Unilever
Country	Great Britain
Introduced	1814
Previous owners	Reckitt Benckiser

Colman's is a UK manufacturer of mustard and various other sauces, based at Carrow, in Norwich, Norfolk. Presently an operational division of the multinational Unilever company, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all varieties of mustard.

History

Jeramiah Colman began making mustard at a water mill near Norwich in the village of Bawburgh. To create a tangy flavour, he blended brown mustard (Brassica juncea) with white mustard (Sinapis alba).

Stoke Holy Cross Mill was the home of Colman's mustard from 1814 to 1862

Jeremiah founded Colman's of Norwich in 1814, at the Stoke Holy Cross mill on the River Tas, four miles south of Norwich. In 1823 he took his adopted nephew, James, into the business which became J. & J. Colman.

In 1851 J.J. Colman took over the business. By 1865 production had transferred to a large factory at Carrow on land bought from the Norfolk Railway to the south of Norwich, 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. 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, while in 1864 the firm employed a nurse to help sick members of staff - a social revolution at the time.

From 1896 Sir Jeremiah Colman became Chairman: in 1903, under his leadership, the firm took over rival mustard maker Keen Robinson & Company (makers of Keen's Mustard), 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).

From 1997 to 2001, Colman's were the main sponsors of Norwich City F.C..

The Colman's part of the business was demerged in 1995 and Colman's became part of Unilever UK Ltd. 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 Leatherhead, UK. (Unilever UK & Ireland 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. In addition, the Colman House residence at the University of East Anglia is named after the company and Jeremiah Colman.

Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum

Colmans Mustard Shop & Museum in The Royal Arcade, Norwich UK.

Schools' display cabinet showing ingredients for Colman's manufacture. Produced between 1900—1939. On display in Colmans' Mustard Shop & Museum.

Since 1973, The Mustard Shop has been trading in Norwich, offering exclusive Colman's products to local customers and visitors to the city. The shop was originally opened in Bridewell Alley, to mark the 150th anniversary of Jeremiah Colman taking his nephew James into partnership, and has since become "one of the city's most popular heritage attractions, cherished by local people and visitors alike."

In 1999, the shop was relocated to Norwich's art nouveau Royal Arcade, where it has stayed since. The shop in the Royal Arcade is a careful replica of a Victorian era trade premises, and features displays illustrating the history of mustard production in the city, as well as classic Colman's advertisements and memorabilia.

Less than a decade after opening here however, following a review of its future, owners Unilever UK & Ireland decided to cease trading at the shop. Its future was saved by Norwich Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust (HEART) in 2009, when they took it over as a retail operation and tourism attraction.

Since taking it over, Norwich HEART have rebranded the shop as "Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum", adding emphasis to the museum element that champions the region's industrial heritage, and has launched a brand new e-commerce online shop. The Royal Arcade shop now features many more exclusive stock items, including innovative products like locally produced Colman's Mustard soaps, foot soaks and bath salts; a range of gift boxes; mugs and signs depicting old advertising posters; a larger selection of mustard pots; locally produced chutneys, pickles, dressings and oils; and a wide range of Colman's mustards. It also now benefits from longer opening hours, participates in heritage activities and runs its own calendar of events.

Publicity

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)

• 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
• Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum's Exclusive mustards

External links

• Mustard Shop & Museum Norwich
• 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