Colman's in brief
- Rank: #95 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #13 of 14 in Consumer & FMCG.
- WCRC Power Score: 60.44 out of 100.
- Founded: 1814, by Jeremiah Colman.
- Owner: Unilever PLC, London, England.
- Leadership: Fernando Fernandez, CEO of Unilever.
- Latest revenue: €50.5bn revenue (FY2025, year to Dec 2025, -3.8%), group revenue of Unilever PLC (turnover; underlying sales growth 3.5%), as per company filings.
What makes Colman's powerful
Colman's is one of Britain's oldest food brands and a symbol of English cooking. Founded by Jeremiah Colman in 1814, its yellow tins and jars of hot English mustard, along with sauces and gravy mixes, have been staples of Sunday roasts and sandwiches for generations.
That heritage gives Colman's loyalty that newer brands lack. It sits within Unilever's Foods business, alongside Knorr and Hellmann's, which benefits from Unilever's scale in buying, distribution and marketing. Unilever's 2025 results showed underlying sales growth of 3.5% on turnover of €50.5 billion, with condiments growing mid-single digit. For a condiment people buy without thinking, being the name they trust is a powerful asset.
Colman's mustard was made in Norwich for about 160 years before Unilever closed the city site.
Why Colman's ranks #95
Colman's is 95th with a WCRC Power Score of 60.44, between ASOS and Currys. Trust is its strongest pillar at 66, built on more than two centuries in British kitchens, and Positioning & recall scores 60. Product & innovation and Sustainability & governance both score 58, and Digital & financial, at 56, is its weakest, as a small, mature brand inside Unilever.
The Achilles' heel
Colman's is a small, mature brand in a group focused on its biggest growth brands. Unilever has been reshaping its portfolio, demerging ice cream and selling smaller food businesses, which raises questions about Colman's long-term home. The closure of its Norwich factory weakened its local identity, and private-label mustard competes on price.
The 2026 story
Colman's owner Unilever reported 2025 results in February 2026. Turnover fell 3.8% to €50.5 billion on a reported basis, but underlying sales grew 3.5% and the underlying operating margin rose to 20.0%. Chief executive Fernando Fernandez said its "sharper focus and disciplined execution" underpinned confidence for 2026 and beyond. The ice cream demerger completed in December 2025, and condiments, led by Hellmann's, grew mid-single digit.
Pillar profile
Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is Colman's in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
Colman's ranks #95 of 100 in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 60.44 out of 100.
What makes Colman's powerful?
More than two centuries of heritage and near-universal recognition in British kitchens make it the default English mustard.
What is Colman's's revenue?
€50.5bn revenue (FY2025, year to Dec 2025, -3.8%), group revenue of Unilever PLC (turnover; underlying sales growth 3.5%), as per company filings.
Who founded and owns Colman's?
Colman's was founded in 1814 by Jeremiah Colman. It is owned by Unilever PLC and based in London, England.
Who leads Colman's?
Fernando Fernandez, CEO of Unilever.
What is Colman's's biggest challenge?
It is a small brand inside a Unilever that is reshaping its portfolio and selling non-core food brands.
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Key facts
| Brand | Colman's |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | Unilever PLC |
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1814 |
| Founder(s) | Jeremiah Colman |
| Leadership | Fernando Fernandez, CEO of Unilever |
| Latest revenue | €50.5bn revenue (FY2025, year to Dec 2025, -3.8%), group revenue of Unilever PLC (turnover; underlying sales growth 3.5%), as per company filings |
| Sector | Consumer & FMCG |
| Website | colmans.co.uk |
| Home country | United Kingdom |
Sources
- Revenue figure published by Unilever PLC
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
