Colman's leaving Norwich would deal a blow to the 'identity and culture of our past, present and future', the great-great-great-grandson of the factory's founder has warned.

Eastern Daily Press: Jeremiah James Colman, great-great-grandfather of James Colman who has criticised proposals which could see the company move out of Norwich.Jeremiah James Colman, great-great-grandfather of James Colman who has criticised proposals which could see the company move out of Norwich. (Image: Archant)

James Colman hit out at the brand's owner Unilever for prioritising profits over tradition, and said it would be a huge loss to the city to break the 200-year-old link with one of its most famous exports.

The Anglo-Dutch company said it would be reviewing the future of the Carrow Works, after the site's co-owner Britvic said it would close its drinks production factory by 2019, which put a total of 355 jobs on the line.

READ MORE: More than 200 jobs at risk as Britvic announces plans to close Norwich factoryREAD MORE: Colman's Mustard factory in Norwich could shut after Britvic announces closure plansMr Colman, who lives just a few miles from the Stoke Holy Cross site where Jeremiah James Colman first milled mustard in 1814, said the legacy left by his forefathers had 'indelibly turned yellow almost everything it touched' in his home city.

'Then along comes the hard-nosed pragmatism of big business and out of the window go jobs, livelihoods, security, identity, and tradition - all because of the bottom line,' he said.

Consumer goods giant Unilever, which produces household brands from Persil to Hellmans, bought Colman's mustards and condiments business in 1995.

Mr Colman, 55, added: 'I believe our fine independently-minded city deserves better treatment than this.

'In the overall scheme of Unilever's masterplan this is small scale but the impact felt will be significant. It will score into the identity and culture of our past present and future.'

He also joined more than 7,000 people from across Norfolk and beyond in endorsing this newspaper's They Must Be Saved campaign, which urges bosses at Britvic and Unilever to keep production in Norwich. Unions, MPs, councillors and business groups have also thrown their weight behind it.

MORE: Sign our petition hereAcknowledging that Unilever was a multinational with responsibility to its shareholders, Mr Colman added: 'It's about weighing up between business and sentiment. And sentiment always comes second.'

Unilever said its review would look in detail at how it could best source its Norwich product range in future, with one option including the closure of the Norwich factory. It said it recognised the historic links to Norwich, and would 'work hard to retain this link'.