Our History
Tickling Taste Buds For Almost 200 Years
It's almost impossible to hear the name Colman's without having that iconic yellow mustard pot spring to mind. Hardly surprising when you consider that it's been around for over 197 years.
It was 1814 when flour miller, Jeremiah Colman, took over a mustard manufacturing business based on the river Tas, four miles south of Norwich. At the time, George III was on the throne and Napolean was losing the Battle of Waterloo to Wellington (maybe he gained the edge by enjoying a lovely dab of Colman's with his namesake, Beef Wellington?).
By 1851, the Colman family business boasted 200 employees and moved to its present location at Carrow in 1862.
Mustard Fit For A Queen
In 1866, the iconic red and yellow was introduced to the Colman's label. That same year, Jeremiah was appointed mustard maker to Queen Victoria and Colman's was granted the Royal Seal, which can still be seen on all Colman's products today.
As well as being very good at making mustard, Jeremiah was an outstanding employer. In 1864, a full 20 years before parliament made education compulsory, he built a subsidised school for his employee's children. He also set up a kitchen to provide hot meals at affordable prices - today's equivalent of a workplace canteen (except theirs never ran out of mustard).
The Only Mustard Worthy Of Your Food
In 1903, Colman's bought rival mustard manufacturer Keen & Son, making Colman's a household name and spawning the saying, 'keen as mustard'.
In 1995, the company was bought by Unilever, who continue to uphold Jeremiah Colman's legacy of great tasting family favourites.
Today, Colman's is about more than just mustard. There's a range of products - from gravies and recipe mixes to mouth-watering condiments and pour-over sauces - all of which have been thoughtfully crafted to perk up your meals, make cooking easier and guarantee smiles all round come dinnertime.
Did you know?
- From 1880-1939, Colman's issued special pictorial tins each year - including ones in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of Edward VII.
- Jeremiah's original site at Stoke Mill is now a restaurant, boasting a display of Colman's memorabilia.
- From 1997-2001, Colman's was the main sponsor of Norwich City FC.
- The bull's head first appeared on Colman's English mustard in 1855 - it symbolises tradition and quality.