We will be a community benefit society
Which means our profits are reinvested in our work, although we do hope in time to pay dividends to our shareholders.
Hello. Welcome to
Norwich Mustard.
From small seeds…
Our Vision
Welcome to Norwich Mustard. We’re a community benefit society, owned by people who want to retain mustard production in the city.
Everyone is sad that Colman’s Norwich factory is closing. Mustard has been made in Norwich since 1858. This EDP report tells the story.
More than 180 people supported a crowdfunding campaign that has allowed us to set up and prepare our business plan. Later, there will be a community share issues. This will give everyone the chance to own shares in Norwich Mustard.
To give you a taste of what is to come, we are having a pilot batch of wholegrain mustard made for us. This will use imported mustard grain and be made in Suffolk. We have mustard being grown for us here in Norfolk and later this year, we hope to start production on a modest scale in the city of Norwich.
We think that you will love Norwich Mustard. It will taste good and prove with every mouthful that community owned business really can cut the mustard.
Doing Different
Norfolk has a rich tradition of bucking the trend and doing things differently. Norwich Mustard is of course an example of that. We want to go one better than to simply retain Norwich making in Norwich. People in Norwich loved Colman’s because they cared for the community within which their mustard was produced. They did much more than provide jobs, building housing, funding healthcare and providing education to families of their workforce.
Norwich Mustard, as a community owned enterprise, will play its part in making Norwich a better place to live and work. We are planning to employ those furthest from the job market, helping them develop skills and experience that will help them secure jobs and rebuild their lives.
We also hope to open a Norwich Mustard shop, perhaps on Norwich Market in the heart of the city.
Education
The story of mustard production in Norwich is in many ways the story of British enterprise. A Victorian family firm that did much more than provide jobs, Colman’s, along with Cadbury, Salt and Lever providing housing, schools and health support for its workers. That’s why Colman’s is so loved in Norwich. It’s why people will be so sad to see it leave.
Over time, most of these family firms became part of large corporates. The economies of scale, access to investment and the ability to reach new markets made this the right thing to do at the time. The products retain their integrity and value, but the rich tradition of community support too often gets lost.
But the 21st century is seeing a return to community led business. Norwich Mustard is an example of that. We plan to work with schools to help young people learn about how business is evolving. We will of course also be helping young people learn about growing, preparing and using mustard!
Our Products
We’ll soon have a range of products for you to sample.
Our plan is to name each after a famous Norwich heroine from history. Norwich has a tradition of producing women who change the world, which of course is what we are setting out to do too.
If you’d like to stay up to date with our products as they are developed, sign up here for our regular bulletins.
Buy Norwich Mustard
You will soon be able to order Norwich Mustard and have it delivered to your door. As well as our range of mustards, we’re planning to sell Norwich Mustard merchandise. Like the Norwich heroines who have inspired us, we are determined to play our part in making Norwich a better place to live and work.
We’re already talking to retailers who will stock our range of Norwich Mustard. If you don’t see Norwich Mustard in your favourite shop, ask them to stock it. We don’t want anyone to miss out!
Join the Norwich Mustard Club
We want you to enjoy Norwich Mustard. Join the Norwich Mustard club and receive a monthly jar of Norwich Mustard, a recipe from a Norfolk chef and a surprise gift. Membership will cost just £5 per month. Sign up here for your invitation to join the Norwich Mustard Club which launches in October 2018.
Trade Sales
Have you got a shop? Or perhaps you run a restaurant or pub? Norwich Mustard can add a special something to any dish and we know it’s going to become very popular. Mustard can also be used to flavour a range of foods, for example chocolate. If you want to stock, or use Norwich Mustard we want to hear from you.
Brown Mustard
Inspired by Edith Cavell
Flavoured with horseradish, this is the mustard soldiers would have enjoyed in the Great War. Inspired by Norwich born nurse Edith Cavell, remembered for helping soldiers from both sides of the conflict.
Wholegrain Mustard
Inspired by Elizabeth Fry
Buy a jar now!We’ve decided to launch with a traditional, no nonsense blend of mustards, inspired by Elizabeth Fry. Born in the centre of Norwich she campaigned for better conditions in our prisons.
French Mustard
Inspired by Harriet Martineau
A mustard made famous by Colman’s, our unique blend is inspired by Norwich born Harriet Martineau, who was a feminist, sociologist an novelist, decades before women won the right to vote.
Our Roadmap
Our Story
When a social entrepreneur and politician get their heads together, you never quite know what will happen. In this case, over a coffee in the Forum, the seed was sown that has grown into Norwich Mustard.
It all started with a conversation. Steve Morphew and Robert Ashton were discussing the anger people were expressing at the announcement of Colman’s closure. “Why don’t we start a new company” said Steve, “and call it Norwich Mustard”.
As a social entrepreneur Robert quickly saw the potential. He posted this video on LinkedIn to see what people thought of the idea. 5,000 people viewed it over the first weekend.
This impressing response spurred Robert on. A third founder was recruited, Chris Herries, who like Steve is a local politician.
The EDP picked up the story, as did the BBC.
A successful crowdfunding campaign raised almost £14,000, which included a £6,000 grant from Lottery funded Power to Change. We’re overwhelmed that 184 people contributed to the campaign. Some Colman’s pensioners also heard about us and are providing us with expert help.
We are also hugely grateful to Pinewood Studios based Mustard PR and Norwich firm Grit Digital. Both are helping us on a pro bono basis. Both can see the potential and with their help, we are confident we will succeed.
Norwich Mustard is already attracting national publicity with Robert interviewed by Radio Four’s Eddie Maier for iPM. You can listen to the interview here.
If you’d like to stay up to date with the Norwich Mustard story, sign up here for our regular bulletins.
Share Issue
There will be a community share issue in early summer. This will raise the capital we need to create jobs and produce mustard in Norwich. The share prospectus and business plan will be available here for you to download when the share issue launches.
Right now you need to know that:
Each shareholder has one vote
At our Annual Meeting, to which all will be invited, each shareholder has one vote.
We hope to get the 50% SEIS tax relief
If we do, then if you invest £500, you can claim £250 tax relief from HMRC. The share prospectus will explain further.
To pre-register and receive our share prospectus, please email shares@norwichmustard.coop
Latest News
Exciting news will be coming soon - stay tuned!
Our Supporters
We could not establish Norwich Mustard without the help of those who have supported us, especially those who supported our crowdfunding campaign. Here are links to some who have helped us and we hope, can help you, should you be setting out to create your own enterprise.
www.uk.coop
Help, advice and a wealth of information from the network for Britain’s thousands of coops.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
The largest crowdfunding platform in Britain. Its fees are reasonable and the advice they give you as you set up and run your campaign, invaluable.
www.powertochange.org.uk
A charitable Trust set up in 2015 with a £150m endowment from the Big Lottery Fund. The people to talk to when you need inspiration, advice or even a grant.
www.plunkett.co.uk
The go to people for advice on setting up a food or rural business. They have supported more than 350 community owned shops and pubs.
www.gritdigital.co.uk
A Norwich based creative team who like to “do different” online. They backed our campaign and are helping us spread the word about Norwich Mustard.
www.the-guild.co.uk
All you ever wanted to know about cooperatives right here in Norwich. They can help you turn your idea into action.
www.tvemedia.co.uk
These guys produced the videos of Robert on his tractor talking about Norwich Mustard.
www.robertashton.co.uk
Robert does much more than just lead Norwich Mustard. He’s a social entrepreneur, author and conference speaker too.
Get in Touch
Please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
General enquiries: hello@norwichmustard.coop
Share offering enquiries: shares@norwichmustard.coop
Contact Robert Ashton: robert@norwichmustard.coop
