Unilever has put the historic mustard brand Colman’s up for sale in an attempt to head off competition concerns over the $44.8bn sale of its food business to McCormick.
Bankers from Rothschild have been engaged to find a buyer for Colman’s, according to Sky News.
McCormick agreed to buy Unilever’s food business at the end of March 2026, and the CMA opened a probe into the deal in July.
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.
“Discussions are ongoing and the operations continue as usual.”
It is hoped a sale of Colman’s would alleviate competition concerns centred on the mustard market, where McCormick already owns French’s.
“Corporate tie-ups such as Unilever’s food arm and McCormick are rarely a case of bolting two businesses together and running everything as normal,” said AJ Bell head of markets Dan Coatsworth.
“It’s natural to review the enlarged operations and to jettison anything deemed non-core.”
While synonymous with a Sunday roast or ham sandwich in the UK, Colman’s is little-known outside the UK, Coatsworth pointed out.
“McCormick might believe the British brand doesn’t cut the mustard and add significant value to its portfolio. After all, McCormick already owns French’s and a host of other mustard-related sauces and powders,” he added.
“There won’t be a shortage of interested parties lining up to own the quintessential British brand, with Premier Foods and Associated British Foods likely to be in the frame as possible buyers.”
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