Jump to content
 







Main menu
   


Navigation  



Main page
Contents
Current events
Random article
About Wikipedia
Contact us
Donate
 




Contribute  



Help
Learn to edit
Community portal
Recent changes
Upload file
 








Search  

































Create account

Log in
 









Create account
 Log in
 




Pages for logged out editors learn more  



Contributions
Talk
 



















Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 History  





2 Relocation  





3 Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum  





4 Publicity  





5 Product range  





6 See also  





7 References  





8 External links  














Colman's: Difference between revisions






Deutsch
فارسی
Français
Bahasa Indonesia
Italiano
Nederlands
Norsk bokmål
Português
Suomi
Svenska
Türkçe

 

Edit links
 









Article
Talk
 

















Read
Edit
View history
 








Tools
   


Actions  



Read
Edit
View history
 




General  



What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Cite this page
Get shortened URL
Download QR code
Wikidata item
 




Print/export  



Download as PDF
Printable version
 




In other projects  



Wikimedia Commons
 
















Appearance
   

 





Help
 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 


Browse history interactively
 Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
→‎Product range (21st century): I think this was what was meant, at least it's not just broken
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(27 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:

{{Short description|English condiment manufacturer}}

{{short description|Manufacturer of mustard and other sauces based in Norwich, England}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

Line 9: Line 9:

|type=Mustard

|type=Mustard

|currentowner=[[Unilever]]

|currentowner=[[Unilever]]

|origin= [[Norfolk]], [[East Anglia]], England

|origin= [[Norfolk]], [[East Anglia]], [[England]]

|introduced= {{start date and age|df=yes|1814}}

|introduced= {{start date and age|df=yes|1814}}

|related=

|related=

Line 16: Line 16:

|trademarkregistrations=

|trademarkregistrations=

}}

}}

'''Colman's''' (est. in 1814) is an English manufacturer of [[Mustard (condiment)|mustard]] and other sauces, formerly based and produced for 160 years at Carrow, in [[Norwich]], Norfolk. Owned by [[Unilever]] since 1995, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all being varieties of [[Mustard (condiment)|mustard]].

'''Colman's''' is an English manufacturer of [[Mustard (condiment)|mustard]] and other sauces, formerly based and produced for 160 years at Carrow, in [[Norwich]], Norfolk. Owned by [[Unilever]] since 1995, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all being varieties of mustard.



==History==

==History==

In the early 1800s, [[Jeremiah 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]]).

In the early 1800s, [[Jeremiah 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]]'').



[[File:Stoke Holy Cross Mill - geograph.org.uk - 142445.jpg|thumb|left|Stoke Holy Cross Mill was the home of Colman's Mustard from 1814 to 1862.]]

[[File:Stoke Holy Cross Mill - geograph.org.uk - 142445.jpg|thumb|left|Stoke Holy Cross Mill was the home of Colman's Mustard from 1814 to 1862.]]

Colman founded '''Colman's of Norwich''' in 1814, at the [[Stoke Holy Cross]] mill on the [[River Tas]], {{Convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} south of Norwich.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.colmansmustardshop.com/history_of_colmans.htm|title=Colman's History|date=June 8, 2009|website=colmansmustardshop.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608114828/http://www.colmansmustardshop.com/history_of_colmans.htm|archive-date=June 8, 2009|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> In 1823 he took his adopted nephew, James, into the business, which became '''J. & J. Colman'''.<ref name=history/>

Colman founded '''Colman's of Norwich''' in 1814, at the [[Stoke Holy Cross]] mill on the [[River Tas]], {{Convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} south of Norwich.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.colmansmustardshop.com/history_of_colmans.htm|title=Colman's History|date=June 8, 2009|website=colmansmustardshop.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608114828/http://www.colmansmustardshop.com/history_of_colmans.htm|archive-date=June 8, 2009|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> In 1823 he took his adopted nephew, James, into the business, which became '''J. & J. Colman'''.<ref name=history/>



In 1851 [[Jeremiah James Colman|J. J. Colman]] took over the business.<ref name=history/> By 1865 production had transferred to a large factory at [[Carrow Road]] on land at [[Thorpe Hamlet]], bought from the [[Norfolk Railway]] to the south of Norwich,<ref name=history/> where the firm operated until the Norwich closure.

In 1851, [[Jeremiah James Colman|J. J. Colman]] took over the business.<ref name=history/> By 1865, production had transferred to a large factory at [[Carrow Road]] on land at [[Thorpe Hamlet]], bought from the [[Norfolk Railway]] to the south of Norwich,<ref name=history/> where the firm operated until the Norwich closure.



From 1855 the firm introduced its distinctive yellow packaging and bull's-head logo, and in 1866 was granted the [[Royal WarrantofAppointment (United Kingdom)|Royal Warrant]] as manufacturers of mustard to [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]].<ref name=history/> Her Majesty's household still uses Colman's today.

From 1855, the firm introduced its distinctive yellow packaging and bull's-head logo. In 1866, it was granted the [[Royal warrantofappointment (United Kingdom)|Royal Warrant]] as manufacturers of mustard to [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]].<ref name=history/> [[British royal family|His Majesty's household]] still uses Colman's today.{{fact|date=January 2024}}



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,<ref name=history/> while in 1864 the firm employed a nurse to help sick members of staff, a social revolution at the time.<ref name=history/>

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,<ref name=history/> while in 1864, the firm employed a nurse to help sick members of staff, a social revolution at the time.<ref name=history/>



From 1896 [[Sir Jeremiah Colman, 1st Baronet|Jeremiah Colman]] became chairman.<ref name=cambridge>{{cite web|url=http://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/library/history.html|title=Department of Biochemistry: History|year=2015|publisher=[[University of Cambridge]]|access-date=December 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803090458/http://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/library/history.html|archive-date=3 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1903, the firm took over rival mustard maker [[Keen's|Keen Robinson & Company]],<ref name=history/> through which it also acquired the [[Robinsons (soft drink)|Robinsons]] [[barley water]] and baby food business.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://karabi.ir/greencontent/uploads/2014/04/THE-EMERGENCE-OF-MODERN-MARKETING.pdf|title=The Emergence of Modern Marketing|access-date=21 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809124353/http://karabi.ir/greencontent/uploads/2014/04/THE-EMERGENCE-OF-MODERN-MARKETING.pdf|archive-date=9 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The purpose of the acquisition was to reduce competition within the mustard business.<ref name=autogenerated1/>

From 1896, [[Sir Jeremiah Colman, 1st Baronet|Jeremiah Colman]] became chairman.<ref name=cambridge>{{cite web|url=http://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/library/history.html|title=Department of Biochemistry: History|year=2015|publisher=[[University of Cambridge]]|access-date=December 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803090458/http://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/library/history.html|archive-date=3 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1903, the firm took over rival mustard maker [[Keen's|Keen Robinson & Company]],<ref name=history/> through which it also acquired the [[Robinsons (soft drink)|Robinsons]] [[barley water]] and baby food business.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://karabi.ir/greencontent/uploads/2014/04/THE-EMERGENCE-OF-MODERN-MARKETING.pdf|title=The Emergence of Modern Marketing|access-date=21 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809124353/http://karabi.ir/greencontent/uploads/2014/04/THE-EMERGENCE-OF-MODERN-MARKETING.pdf|archive-date=9 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The purpose of the acquisition was to reduce competition within the mustard business.<ref name=autogenerated1/>



In the 19th and early 20th centuries [[Wisbech]] uniquely held annual mustard markets where the sale of the harvest of 'brown' and 'white' seed took place. Regular annual Buyers included Messrs Colman's. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19071025/032/0006|newspaper=Stamford Mercury|title=Coleman of Norwich|access-date =21 September 2019}}{{subscription required|via=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001995/18891025/055/0005|title=Coleman of Norwich|newspaper=Wisbech Standard|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>

In the 19th and early 20th centuries [[Wisbech]] uniquely held annual mustard markets where the sale of the harvest of 'brown' and 'white' seed took place. Regular annual Buyers included Messrs Colman's. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19071025/032/0006|newspaper=Stamford Mercury|title=Coleman of Norwich|access-date =21 September 2019}}{{subscription required|via=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001995/18891025/055/0005|title=Coleman of Norwich|newspaper=Wisbech Standard|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>



By 1909 the company employed 2,300 people.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

By 1909, the company employed 2,300 people.<ref name=autogenerated1 />



Keen's production was moved from London to Norwich in 1925.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Keen's production was moved from London to Norwich in 1925.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Line 40: Line 40:

Together with [[Reckitt]], the company acquired [[French's]], the American mustard manufacturer, in 1926 for £750,000.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Together with [[Reckitt]], the company acquired [[French's]], the American mustard manufacturer, in 1926 for £750,000.<ref name=autogenerated1 />



In 1938 it merged with [[Reckitts and Sons]] of Hull to form the [[Reckitt & Colman]] household products conglomerate.<ref name=history/>

In 1938, it merged with [[Reckitts and Sons]] of Hull to form the [[Reckitt & Colman]] household products conglomerate.<ref name=history/>



From 1997 to 2001, Colman's were the main sponsors of [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City Football Club]].

From 1997 to 2001, Colman's were the main sponsors of [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City Football Club]].

Line 46: Line 46:

The Colman's part of the business was demerged in 1995 and Colman's became part of [[Unilever]] UK Ltd.<ref name=history/><ref name=bbc2013>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-23051897|title=Colman's Norwich factory jobs may be at risk|date=June 25, 2013|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> In addition to mustard, it applies its name to condiments, sauces and other foodstuffs. Reckitt and Colman engaged in cost-cutting as it prepared to sell the brand, getting rid of the [[agronomy]] department, which had looked after plant breeding and seed development.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Warwicker|first1=Michelle|last2=Saladino|first2=Dan|date=2 September 2012|title=How English mustard almost lost its name|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/19370526|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902193147/https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/19370526|archive-date=2 September 2012|access-date=21 March 2015|publisher=BBC Food}}</ref>

The Colman's part of the business was demerged in 1995 and Colman's became part of [[Unilever]] UK Ltd.<ref name=history/><ref name=bbc2013>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-23051897|title=Colman's Norwich factory jobs may be at risk|date=June 25, 2013|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> In addition to mustard, it applies its name to condiments, sauces and other foodstuffs. Reckitt and Colman engaged in cost-cutting as it prepared to sell the brand, getting rid of the [[agronomy]] department, which had looked after plant breeding and seed development.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Warwicker|first1=Michelle|last2=Saladino|first2=Dan|date=2 September 2012|title=How English mustard almost lost its name|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/19370526|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902193147/https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/19370526|archive-date=2 September 2012|access-date=21 March 2015|publisher=BBC Food}}</ref>



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 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 First and Middle Schools. In addition, the Colman House residence at the [[University of East Anglia]] is named after the company and Jeremiah Colman.



==Relocation==

==Relocation==

In January 2018, it was announced that Colman's was to leave its base in Norwich where the condiment had been produced for 160 years and would move its production to [[Burton-on-Trent]] and [[Germany]].<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-42569750|title=Colman's to leave Norwich base after 160 years|work=BBC News|date=4 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>

In January 2018, it was announced that Colman's was to leave its base in Norwich where the condiment had been produced for 160 years and would move its production to [[Burton-on-Trent]] and [[Germany]].<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-42569750|title=Colman's to leave Norwich base after 160 years|work=BBC News|date=4 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>



In 2019 the Colman's factory in Norwich rolled its last jar of mustard off the production line and its "best before" date was changed for the occasion to: "'''Norwich's''' Last. By Its Finest. July 24th 2019".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-49119530 | title=Last Colman's Mustard jar rolls off Norwich production line | work=BBC News | date=25 July 2019 }}</ref> Colman's continued making other condiments at the Carrow site until closing its doors in early 2020.

In 2019, the Colman's factory in Norwich rolled its last jar of mustard off the production line and its "best before" date was changed for the occasion to: "'''Norwich's''' Last. By Its Finest. July 24th 2019".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-49119530 | title=Last Colman's Mustard jar rolls off Norwich production line | work=BBC News | date=25 July 2019 }}</ref> Colman's continued making other condiments at the Carrow site until closing its doors in early 2020.



==Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum==

==Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum==

[[File:Mustard Shop exterior.jpg|thumb|alt=Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum in the Royal Arcade, Norwich UK.|Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum in The Royal Arcade, Norwich, 2011]]

[[File:Mustard Shop exterior.jpg|thumb|alt=Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum in the Royal Arcade, Norwich UK.|Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum in The Royal Arcade, Norwich, 2011]]

[[File:Colman's school display cabinet.jpg|thumb|Schools' display cabinet showing ingredients for Colman's manufacture which was produced between 1900 and 1939, on display in Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum]]

[[File:Colman's school display cabinet.jpg|thumb|Schools' display cabinet showing ingredients for Colman's manufacture which was produced between 1900 and 1939, on display in Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum]]

The Mustard Shop traded in [[Norwich]] from 1973 to April 2017.<ref name=eastern2>{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/colman-s-mustard-shop-to-close-and-reopen-in-a-new-norwich-site-later-in-the-year-1-4978931|title=Colman's Mustard Shop to close and reopen in a new Norwich site later in the year|date=April 18, 2017|last=Knights|first=Emma|newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]]|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> The shop was originally opened in Bridewell Alley.<ref name=eastern2 /> In 1999, the shop was relocated to Norwich's [[art nouveau]] Royal Arcade.<ref name=eastern2 /> Norwich Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust took over the shop in 2009, making it both a retail operation and tourism attraction.<ref name=eastern2 /> In 2015, Guildhall Enterprises took the premises from HEART.<ref name=eastern /> The shop was closed in April 2017.<ref name=eastern2 /><ref name=eastern>{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/http-www-edp24-co-uk-news-coleman-s-artefacts-put-into-storage-as-plans-for-a-reborn-mustard-shop-are-scrapped-1-5225045-1-5225045|title=Colman's artefacts put into storage as plans to re-open Norwich's famous Colman's Mustard Shop scrapped|last=Powell|first=Luke|date=October 6, 2017|newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]]|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref>

The Mustard Shop traded in [[Norwich]] from 1973 to April 2017.<ref name=eastern2>{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/colman-s-mustard-shop-to-close-and-reopen-in-a-new-norwich-site-later-in-the-year-1-4978931|title=Colman's Mustard Shop to close and reopen in a new Norwich site later in the year|date=April 18, 2017|last=Knights|first=Emma|newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]]|access-date=December 8, 2018|archive-date=9 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165148/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/colman-s-mustard-shop-to-close-and-reopen-in-a-new-norwich-site-later-in-the-year-1-4978931|url-status=dead}}</ref> The shop was originally opened in Bridewell Alley.<ref name=eastern2 /> In 1999, the shop was relocated to [[Royal Arcade, Norwich|Norwich's Royal Arcade]].<ref name=eastern2 /> Norwich Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust took over the shop in 2009, making it both a retail operation and tourism attraction.<ref name=eastern2 /> In 2015, Guildhall Enterprises took the premises from HEART.<ref name=eastern /> The shop was closed in April 2017.<ref name=eastern2 /><ref name=eastern>{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/http-www-edp24-co-uk-news-coleman-s-artefacts-put-into-storage-as-plans-for-a-reborn-mustard-shop-are-scrapped-1-5225045-1-5225045|title=Colman's artefacts put into storage as plans to re-open Norwich's famous Colman's Mustard Shop scrapped|last=Powell|first=Luke|date=October 6, 2017|newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]]|access-date=December 8, 2018|archive-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006022527/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/http-www-edp24-co-uk-news-coleman-s-artefacts-put-into-storage-as-plans-for-a-reborn-mustard-shop-are-scrapped-1-5225045-1-5225045|url-status=dead}}</ref>



==Publicity==

==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 (artist)|John Gilroy]] resulted in "The Mustard Club" for Colman's Mustard.<ref>Barbara Reynolds. Dorothy L. Sayers: Her Life and Soul. NY: St Martin's Griffin, 1997. P. 164-165</ref>

In the 1920s, [[Dorothy L. Sayers]] worked on their account. Sayers was employed by S. H. Benson; her collaboration with artist [[John Gilroy (artist)|John Gilroy]] resulted in "The Mustard Club" for Colman's Mustard.<ref>Barbara Reynolds. Dorothy L. Sayers: Her Life and Soul. NY: St Martin's Griffin, 1997. P. 164-165</ref> Media slogans such as "Come on Colman's, light my fire" appeared in the late 20th century.



While the product was still manufactured in Norfolk, Colman's was the main shirt sponsor of [[Norwich City Football Club]].

==Product range (21st century)==


* Colman's [[Mustard (condiment)#English mustard|English Mustard]] 50g

==Product range==

* Colman's English Mustard 100g

* Colman's English Mustard 170g

* Colman's [[Mustard (condiment)#English mustard|English Mustard]]

* Colman's English Mustard Squeeze 150g

* Colman's French Mustard

* Colman's Hot Dog Mustard

* Colman's Mustard Powder

* Colman's Wholegrain mustard 150ml

* Colman's Dijon mustard 150ml

* Colman's Mild Mustard 300ml

* Colman's Condiments

* Colman's Condiments

** Bramley Apple Sauce

** Bramley Apple Sauce

** Classic Mint Sauce

** Mint Sauce

** Cranberry Sauce

** Cranberry Sauce

** Fresh Garden Mint

** Horseradish Sauce

** Horseradish Sauce

** Seafood Sauce

** Seafood Sauce

** Sweet Mint Jelly

** Tartare Sauce

** Tartare Sauce

* Colman's Pour overs

* Colman's recipe mixes

** Beef bourguignon

* Colman's Dry Sauces

** Sausage & onion casserole

* Colman's Special Sauces

** Coq au vin

* Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum's Exclusive mustards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mustardshopnorwich.co.uk/our-exclusive-mustards-cid3.html |title=Food & Drink, Our Exclusive Mustards |publisher=Mustardshopnorwich.co.uk |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

** Chicken pie

** Fish pie

** Beef casserole

** Chilli con carne

** Sausage casserole

** Chicken casserole

** Cottage pie

** Spaghetti bolognese

** Tuna pasta bake

** Chicken chasseur

** Shepherd's pie

** Hot chilli con carne

** Chicken supreme

** Beef stroganoff

** Lamb hotpot

* Colman's sauce mixes

** Pepper sauce

** Onion sauce

** Parsley sauce

** Cheddar cheese sauce

** White sauce

** Bread sauce

* Colman's Big Night In

** Salt and pepper chicken

** Mexican burritos

** Korean barbecue

** Argentinian steak

** Chicken kebab

** Ultimate burger

** Doner kebab

* Colman's Season & Shake

** Mediterranean chicken

** Garlic & herb roast chicken

** Piri piri chicken

** Sweet chilli chicken

** Cajun chicken



==See also==

==See also==

Line 109: Line 136:

[[Category:British brands]]

[[Category:British brands]]

[[Category:British companies established in 1814]]

[[Category:British companies established in 1814]]

[[Category:British Royal Warrant holders]]

[[Category:British royal warrant holders]]

[[Category:1814 establishments in England]]

[[Category:1814 establishments in England]]

[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1814]]

[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1814]]


Latest revision as of 22:41, 15 May 2024

Colman's
An old Colman's advert at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
Product typeMustard
OwnerUnilever
CountryNorfolk, East Anglia, England
Introduced1814; 210 years ago (1814)
Previous ownersReckitt & Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser)

Colman's is an English manufacturer of mustard and other sauces, formerly based and produced for 160 years at Carrow, in Norwich, Norfolk. Owned by Unilever since 1995, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all being varieties of mustard.

History[edit]

In the early 1800s, Jeremiah 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.

Colman founded Colman's of Norwich in 1814, at the Stoke Holy Cross mill on the River Tas, four miles (6.4 km) 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. Colman took over the business.[1] By 1865, production had transferred to a large factory at Carrow Road on land at Thorpe Hamlet, bought from the Norfolk Railway to the south of Norwich,[1] where the firm operated until the Norwich closure.

From 1855, the firm introduced its distinctive yellow packaging and bull's-head logo. In 1866, it was granted the Royal Warrant as manufacturers of mustard to Queen Victoria.[1] His Majesty's household still uses Colman's today.[citation needed]

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, Jeremiah Colman became chairman.[2] In 1903, the firm took over rival mustard maker Keen Robinson & Company,[1] through which it also acquired the Robinsons barley water and baby food business.[3] The purpose of the acquisition was to reduce competition within the mustard business.[3]

In the 19th and early 20th centuries Wisbech uniquely held annual mustard markets where the sale of the harvest of 'brown' and 'white' seed took place. Regular annual Buyers included Messrs Colman's. [4][5]

By 1909, the company employed 2,300 people.[3]

Keen's production was moved from London to Norwich in 1925.[3]

Together with Reckitt, the company acquired French's, the American mustard manufacturer, in 1926 for £750,000.[3]

In 1938, it merged with Reckitts and Sons of Hull to form the Reckitt & Colman household products conglomerate.[1]

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

The Colman's part of the business was demerged in 1995 and Colman's became part of Unilever UK Ltd.[1][6] In addition to mustard, it applies its name to condiments, sauces and other foodstuffs. Reckitt and Colman engaged in cost-cutting as it prepared to sell the brand, getting rid of the agronomy department, which had looked after plant breeding and seed development.[7]

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 First and Middle Schools. In addition, the Colman House residence at the University of East Anglia is named after the company and Jeremiah Colman.

Relocation[edit]

In January 2018, it was announced that Colman's was to leave its base in Norwich where the condiment had been produced for 160 years and would move its production to Burton-on-Trent and Germany.[8]

In 2019, the Colman's factory in Norwich rolled its last jar of mustard off the production line and its "best before" date was changed for the occasion to: "Norwich's Last. By Its Finest. July 24th 2019".[9] Colman's continued making other condiments at the Carrow site until closing its doors in early 2020.

Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum[edit]

Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum in the Royal Arcade, Norwich UK.
Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum in The Royal Arcade, Norwich, 2011
Schools' display cabinet showing ingredients for Colman's manufacture which was produced between 1900 and 1939, on display in Colman's Mustard Shop & Museum

The Mustard Shop traded in Norwich from 1973 to April 2017.[10] The shop was originally opened in Bridewell Alley.[10] In 1999, the shop was relocated to Norwich's Royal Arcade.[10] Norwich Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust took over the shop in 2009, making it both a retail operation and tourism attraction.[10] In 2015, Guildhall Enterprises took the premises from HEART.[11] The shop was closed in April 2017.[10][11]

Publicity[edit]

In the 1920s, Dorothy L. Sayers worked on their account. Sayers was employed by S. H. Benson; her collaboration with artist John Gilroy resulted in "The Mustard Club" for Colman's Mustard.[12] Media slogans such as "Come on Colman's, light my fire" appeared in the late 20th century.

While the product was still manufactured in Norfolk, Colman's was the main shirt sponsor of Norwich City Football Club.

Product range[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Colman's History". colmansmustardshop.com. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  • ^ "Department of Biochemistry: History". University of Cambridge. 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  • ^ a b c d e "The Emergence of Modern Marketing" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  • ^ "Coleman of Norwich". Stamford Mercury. Retrieved 21 September 2019. – via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (subscription required)
  • ^ "Coleman of Norwich". Wisbech Standard. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  • ^ "Colman's Norwich factory jobs may be at risk". BBC News. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  • ^ Warwicker, Michelle; Saladino, Dan (2 September 2012). "How English mustard almost lost its name". BBC Food. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  • ^ "Colman's to leave Norwich base after 160 years". BBC News. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  • ^ "Last Colman's Mustard jar rolls off Norwich production line". BBC News. 25 July 2019.
  • ^ a b c d e Knights, Emma (18 April 2017). "Colman's Mustard Shop to close and reopen in a new Norwich site later in the year". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  • ^ a b Powell, Luke (6 October 2017). "Colman's artefacts put into storage as plans to re-open Norwich's famous Colman's Mustard Shop scrapped". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  • ^ Barbara Reynolds. Dorothy L. Sayers: Her Life and Soul. NY: St Martin's Griffin, 1997. P. 164-165
  • External links[edit]


    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colman%27s&oldid=1224046550"

    Categories: 
    British condiments
    Companies based in Norwich
    Food and drink companies of England
    Mustard brands
    Unilever brands
    British brands
    British companies established in 1814
    British royal warrant holders
    1814 establishments in England
    Food and drink companies established in 1814
    Condiment companies
    Colman family
    Hidden categories: 
    Subscription required using via
    Pages containing links to subscription-only content
    Articles with short description
    Short description is different from Wikidata
    EngvarB from June 2017
    Use dmy dates from June 2017
    All articles with unsourced statements
    Articles with unsourced statements from January 2024
    Commons category link is on Wikidata
     



    This page was last edited on 15 May 2024, at 22:41 (UTC).

    Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.



    Privacy policy

    About Wikipedia

    Disclaimers

    Contact Wikipedia

    Code of Conduct

    Developers

    Statistics

    Cookie statement

    Mobile view



    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki