Colman's Mustard put up for sale ahead of Unilever-McCormick merger

Unilever has announced the sale of Colman's Mustard, a brand with deep roots in Norwich, England, ahead of its planned merger with American food giant McCormick in a deal reportedly worth £48bn. The sale is intended to proactively address potential competition concerns from the combination of Unilever Foods and McCormick. Colman's was founded in 1814 in Stoke Holy Cross, Norfolk, and had a factory in Norwich for 160 years before closing in 2020. The wider merger will see McCormick take control of brands like Hellmann's, Marmite, Knorr, and Pot Noodle, while Unilever focuses on home and personal care. A Unilever spokesperson said discussions are ongoing and operations continue as usual.