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, though now also producing a range of recipe and sauce mixes, as well as other condiments.

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).

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, south of Norwich. In 1823 he took his adopted nephew, James, into the business, which became J. & J. Colman.

From 1896, Jeremiah Colman became chairman. In 1903, the firm took over rival mustard maker Keen Robinson & Company, The purpose of the acquisition was to reduce competition within the mustard business. By 1909, the company employed 2,300 people. 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. From 1997 to 2001, Colman's were the main sponsors of Norwich City Football Club.

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.

Originally all Mustard and Condiments were in round jars. Since 1991 some Mustard and all Condiments are in square jars. Only English mustard and French mustard kept the round jar. Some Mustards have being on and off in round to square jars.

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 upon Trent in Staffordshire and Germany.

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". Colman's continued making other condiments at the Carrow site until closing its doors in early 2020.

Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum

thumb|alt=Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum in the Royal Arcade, Norwich UK.|Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum in The Royal Arcade, Norwich, 2011

thumb|Schools' display cabinet showing ingredients for Colman's manufacture which was produced between 1900 and 1939, on display in Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum

The Mustard Shop traded in Norwich from 1973 to April 2017. The shop was originally opened in Bridewell Alley.

Publicity

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. 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

  • Colman's Mustard
  • English Mustard
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Whole-grain mustard
  • Apple Cider Mustard which is discontinued
  • Amercian mustard which is discontinued
  • French mustard which is discontinued
  • Garlic Mustard which is discontinued
  • German Mustard which is discontinued
  • Colman's Condiments
  • Bramley Apple Sauce
  • Mint Sauce: A product that had 2 names until late 2010's of Classic Mint Sauce and Fresh Garden Mint.
  • Cranberry Sauce a Christmas edition there was Cherry Cranberry Sauce in the mid 1990s.
  • Horseradish Sauce
  • Seafood Sauce
  • Tartare Sauce
  • Sweet Mint Jelly which is discontinued
  • Colman's recipe mixes
  • Beef bourguignon
  • Sausage and onion casserole
  • Coq au vin
  • 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 and Shake
  • Mediterranean chicken
  • Garlic and herb roast chicken
  • Piri piri chicken
  • Sweet chilli chicken
  • Cajun chicken

See also

  • List of mustard brands

References

  • Colman's Official Website
  • The Bawburgh Mill
  • The Stoke Holy Cross Mill