Colman’s Mustard could remain in Norwich as its owner considers future options within the city, a regional business leader has claimed.

Unilever, which makes the condiment, announced in October it could shut its factory on Bracondale after Britvic, which shares the site, said it was planning to move out of the city.

However Doug Field, chairman of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), has said Unilever is considering three sites in the city to which it could move its operations – reviving hopes that 200 years of Colman’s heritage may not come to an end in Norwich.

LEP chief executive Chris Starkie confirmed the sites under consideration were the new food enterprise zone at Honingham Thorpe, a site on the Norwich Airport industrial estate, or to remain at the Carrow Works site.

But he stressed the process was “at a very early stage”.

“The LEP is continuing to work with Unilever in the hope of reaching a positive outcome. We are also working with partners at Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council and with our MPs to keep lines of communication open. Our meeting with the Secretary of State was an important part of that work,” he said.

The disclosure followed a meeting with business secretary Greg Clark on Monday, which saw representatives from the LEP and two local authorities present potential proposals for the Britvic and Unilever factories’ futures. Mr Clark has since said he would contact the firms to try and persuade them not to leave the county.