Colman’s factory in Norwich will close next year junking 200 years of history with production moving to Germany and rest of UK

COLMAN’S mustard is set to leave Norwich after more than 200 years – moving production to other sites including a factory in Germany.

Dozens of jobs will be scrapped after the iconic brand shuts down its plant in East Anglia, where it was founded in 1814.

Local MPs and unions expressed fury at the decision by giant food firm Unilever, which now owns Colman’s.

The factory will start shutting down this year, and will be closed completely at the end of 2019.

Around 50 workers are likely to be laid off as a result of the decision.

The closure comes after juice firm Britvic announced it was quitting the production site in Norwich which it shares with Colman’s.

As reported by The Sun in October, the news made it likely that Unilever would also decide to pull out of the city.

Some of the production of Colman’s products will move to a Unilever factory in Germany, with other goods being made in the Midlands town of Burton upon Trent.

40 out of 113 staff will be offered the chance to move to Burton and another 25 will get jobs at a new mustard mill in Norwich.

Unilever insisted the mill will “protect the link between Colman’s and Norwich” – even though no mustard will now be made there.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Following Britvic’s decision to close its Norwich factory on our shared site, which has serious implications for Unilever, we have announced the outcome of a review of our manufacturing at the site.

“Under the proposals which we have shared with our employees, Unilever’s Norwich factory, where we make Colman’s products, would unfortunately close at the end of 2019, with a phased transfer of production likely to begin in 2018.

“We recognise that these proposals will be difficult news for our Norwich employees, their families, and the whole community in Norwich.

“We are committed to supporting our employees during this difficult time.”

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith told The Sun: “Today’s announcement that Unilever will close their Norwich factory is bitterly disappointing.

“Together with Britvic’s decision, this is a real blow for a large number of employees, and a distressing day for Norwich.

“I am deeply saddened on behalf of constituents affected.”

The GMB union added: “This is absolutely devastating news for the workforce at Colman’s, for the city of Norwich and for manufacturing in East Anglia.”

Jeremiah Colman first started making mustard in a village near Norfolk in 1814, and his company developed into one of the UK’s best-known food brands.

Colman’s gained a royal warrant in 1865 and remains a supplier to the Queen and her family to this day.