Unilever to sell Colman's Mustard ahead of McCormick merger

Unilever has put the historic Colman's Mustard brand up for sale to preempt competition concerns regarding its planned merger with the American spice company McCormick. The deal, which involves the sale of Unilever's food division to McCormick for approximately £48 billion ($44.8 billion), is expected to close in mid-2027, pending regulatory approval.

Unilever's advisers expressed concerns that allowing McCormick to acquire Colman's—in addition to its existing ownership of French's Mustard—could lead to a mustard monopoly. This potential issue has drawn scrutiny from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority and the US Federal Trade Commission. By proactively marketing the Colman's brand and assets, Unilever aims to alleviate these antitrust fears to ensure the broader transaction proceeds.

Rothschild has been hired to manage the sale of the brand. While Colman's is a staple in the UK, it has a smaller international footprint. Potential buyers for the heritage brand may include companies such as Premier Foods or Associated British Foods.