View source for Colman's

{{Short description|English condiment manufacturer}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox Brand
| logo=
| name=Colman's
| image=Buckinghamshire Railway Colmans advert.jpg
| caption=An old Colman's advert at the [[Buckinghamshire Railway Centre]]
| type=Mustard
| currentowner=[[Unilever]]
| origin= [[Norfolk]], [[East Anglia]], England
| introduced= {{start date and age|df=yes|1814}}
| related=
| markets=
| previousowners=Reckitt & Colman (now [[Reckitt Benckiser]])
| trademarkregistrations=
}}
'''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, 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]]'').

[[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/>

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.  In 1866, it was granted the [[Royal warrant of appointment (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.{{citation needed|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/>

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>

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 />

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 [[Reckitt 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]].

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 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==
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.

==Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum==
[[File:Mustard Shop exterior.jpg|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]]
[[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 and 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|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 and 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==
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==
* Colman's [[Mustard (condiment)#English mustard|English Mustard]]
* Colman's Condiments
** Bramley Apple Sauce
** Mint Sauce
** Cranberry Sauce
** Horseradish Sauce
** Seafood Sauce
** Tartare Sauce
* 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==
{{portal|England|Food}}
* [[List of mustard brands]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Colman's (mustard)}}
* [http://www.colmans.co.uk/ Colman's Official Website]
* [http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/Watermills/bawburgh.html The Bawburgh Mill]
* [http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/Watermills/stoke-holy-cross.html The Stoke Holy Cross Mill]

{{Unilever}}
{{Mustard (condiment)}}

[[Category:British condiments]]
[[Category:Companies based in Norwich]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies of England]]
[[Category:Mustard brands]]
[[Category:Unilever brands]]
[[Category:British brands]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1814]]
[[Category:British royal warrant holders]]
[[Category:1814 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1814]]
[[Category:Colman family]]
[[Category:Brand name condiments]]
[[Category:Condiment companies of the United Kingdom]]