// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Colman's Mustard put up for sale ahead of merger
Colman's Mustard has been in Norfolk since it was founded by Jeremiah Colman at Stoke Holy Cross in 1814
A famous mustard brand synonymous with Norwich has been put up for sale.
Colman's Mustard, which had a factory in Norwich for 160 years, has been put on the market ahead of a merger between Unilever and American food giant McCormick in a deal believed to be worth £48bn.
The company has been deeply rooted in Norfolk after it was founded in 1814 by Jeremiah Colman at Stoke Holy Cross before production moved to Carrow in 1858.
A Unilever spokesperson said: "A decision has been taken to market the Colman's brand and assets to potential buyers in order to proactively seek to address potential competition concerns from the planned combination of Unilever Foods and McCormick."
Based outside of Norwich, the firm had a cradle-to-grave ethos and provided education, housing, healthcare and leisure for workers and their families.
A school was built on Carrow Hill in 1864 for employees' children and the firm supplied coffins for workers and their families, and built a series of terrace houses which were believed to have doors painted mustard yellow.
Production line workers at the Colman's works in 1908
Colman's workers were photographed leaving work in about 1910
In January 2018, Unilever announced it would close the Carrow plant and the last jar of mustard rolled off the production line in 2019 before the factory was closed in 2020.