Sarson's facts for kids
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| Product type | Vinegar |
|---|---|
| Owner | Mizkan |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1794 |
| Previous owners | Crosse & Blackwell Nestlé Premier Foods |
Sarson's is a well-known brand of malt vinegar made in the United Kingdom. You can often find it in special pear-shaped bottles with a flip top. The company that owns Sarson's today is called Mizkan. Sarson's also makes vinegar for other companies like Sainsbury's.
Contents
The History of Sarson's Vinegar
Sarson's vinegar was first made by Thomas Sarson in 1794. He brewed it from malt barley. His son, Henry James Sarson, later took over the business. Sales of the vinegar grew a lot under Henry's leadership.
In 1884, the vinegar was briefly called "Sarson's Virgin Vinegar." This name was inspired by a Bible story, not because the vinegar was 'pure'. However, this name was soon changed back. By 1893, the company was known as Henry Sarson and Sons. Henry's sons, Henry Logsdail and Percival Stanley, also joined the family business.
The original Sarson's Vinegar factory was in Bermondsey, London. It was near Tower Bridge. People could often smell the strong aroma of vinegar in that area!
Moving Production and New Owners
In 1932, Sarson's joined with other British vinegar makers. They formed a new company called British Vinegars Ltd. Later, in 1968, the production of Sarson's vinegar moved. It moved to a new factory in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
The old factory in Bermondsey closed down. Parts of the site were later turned into new homes and offices. There was also another factory in Stourport-on-Severn, which is now closed.
Over the years, Sarson's has had different owners. It was owned by Crosse & Blackwell, then Nestlé, and later Premier Foods. In 2012, Mizkan bought Sarson's. Mizkan is a very old vinegar company from Japan.
Sarson's Advertising Campaigns
Sarson's has used different ways to advertise its vinegar. In 1893, there was a cartoon print called "The Irony of Circumstance." It showed women in front of a sign for "Virgin Vinegar."
Around the 1900s, a postcard advertisement was used. It had the slogan "She would have Sarsons." In the 1930s and 1940s, photographs were taken of Sarson's vinegar trucks and the factory. These pictures are now kept in the London Metropolitan Archives.
A famous slogan used to advertise Sarson's is: "Don't say vinegar - say Sarson's."
Different Kinds of Sarson's Vinegar
Sarson's makes several types of vinegar for different uses:
- Malt and Distilled Vinegar
- Lemon Vinegar
- Light Malt Vinegar
- Pickling Strength Malt Vinegar
Other Products from Sarson's
Besides vinegar, Sarson's has also made other food products:
