Colman's of Norwich
1814 Jeremiah Colman (1777-1851), originally a miller at Bawburgh near Norwich, purchased the flour and mustard making concern of Edward Ames at the Stoke Holy Cross mill on the River Tas, four miles south of Norwich.
1823 His nephew James was taken into partnership J. and J. Colman.
1841 Jeremiah moved to Norwich, leaving James Colman (1802-1854) in charge of the mustard-making business of J. and J. Colman at Stoke.
1840s Introduced innovative marketing policies. From that time the sale of mustard, starch, and blue began to be made in small amounts packed in containers distinctive in size, shape, label, and colour.
1851 James' eldest son, Jeremiah James Colman (1830–1898), joined the partnership on his uncle's death.
1854 Jeremiah James Colman was in charge of the Stoke business on James's death; later other relations were brought into the business.
From 1855 the firm introduced its distinctive yellow packaging and bull's head logo.
Between 1856 and 1862 the factory was moved from Stoke to an integrated factory at Carrow in Norwich, on land bought from the Norfolk Railway Co, producing mustard, starch, and laundry blue. The site continued to be used to the present.
The Colman family's pioneering achievements in social welfare are part of Norwich's history.
1857 a school was opened for the employees' children.
1864 the firm employed a nurse to help sick members of staff - a social revolution at the time.
1866 the company was granted the Royal Warrant as manufacturers of mustard to Queen Victoria.
1869 1100 employees at Carrow
1896 The company was registered on 24 December, to acquire the business of mustard manufacturers of the firm of the same name. [1]
1898 the number of workers employed at the Carrow works was 2500.
1903 the firm took over rival mustard maker Keen Robinson and Co (makers of Keen's Mustard), through which it also acquired the barley-based drink and baby food business; the predecessor company Robinson and Belville had been manufacturing patent Barley and Groats, sold in powder form, since 1823.
1935 Creation of Robinson's Barley water for the Wimbledon tennis championship - a Colman's representative created a drink to refresh and hydrate the players, by combining barley crystals with lemon juice, sugar and water.
1938 Colmans merged with Reckitt and Sons to form the Reckitt and Colman household products conglomerate (now Reckitt Benckiser).
1995 The Colman's part of the business was demerged and became part of Unilever. As well as mustard, it applies its name to condiments, sauces and other foodstuffs. The Robinsons brand was bought by Britvic.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908