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 its special pear-shaped bottles with a flip-top lid. The company that owns Sarson's today is called Mizkan. Besides its own brand, Sarson's also makes vinegar for other companies like Sainsbury's.
Contents
The Story of Sarson's Vinegar
How It All Started
Sarson's vinegar was first made by a person named Thomas Sarson way back in 1794. He brewed it from malt barley. His son, Henry James Sarson, took over the business later. Sales of the vinegar grew a lot when Henry was in charge.
In 1884, the vinegar was briefly called "Sarson's Virgin Vinegar." This name was inspired by an old story, not because the product was super pure. However, the name didn't stick around for long and was soon changed back. By 1893, the company was known as Henry Sarson and Sons. They operated from "The Vinegar Works" in Shoreditch, London. Henry's two sons, Henry Logsdail Sarson and Percival Stanley Sarson, also joined the family business.
Where Sarson's Was Made
For many years, the main Sarson's Vinegar factory was located in Tanner Street in Bermondsey, London. This area was close to Tower Bridge. People living nearby could often smell the strong aroma of vinegar coming from the factory!
In 1932, Sarson's joined with other British vinegar makers to form a new company called British Vinegars Ltd. Later, in 1968, British Vinegars bought a new location in Middleton, Greater Manchester. Production of Sarson's vinegar then moved to this new factory.
The old Tanner Street factory in London eventually closed down. The buildings were used for storage for a while. After 2000, parts of the old factory site were turned into new apartments and offices. Any remaining old buildings were removed. There was also another Sarson's factory in Stourport-on-Severn, but it is now closed.
Who Has Owned Sarson's
Over the years, Sarson's has been owned by several different companies. First, it was taken over by Crosse & Blackwell. Then, Nestlé bought Crosse & Blackwell. Later, Nestlé sold Sarson's to Premier Foods.
In July 2012, Premier Foods decided to sell Sarson's. They sold it, along with other brands like Haywards pickles and Dufrais vinegar, to Mizkan. Mizkan is a very old vinegar company from Japan, and they paid £41 million for the brands. This sale was part of Premier Foods' plan to focus on other products.
Sarson's Advertising
Sarson's has used different ways to advertise its vinegar over the years. In 1893, there was a cartoon print called "The Irony of Circumstance." It showed women in front of a sign that said "Virgin Vinegar."
Around the 1900s, a colorful postcard advertisement for "Sarson's Virgin Vinegar" was part of a campaign with the slogan "She would have Sarsons." In the 1930s and 1940s, there are photographs of Sarson's vinegar trucks. There are also many pictures of the vinegar works from that time. These old photos are kept in the London Metropolitan Archives.
A famous slogan used to advertise Sarson's is: "Don't say vinegar - say Sarson's."
Types of Sarson's Vinegar
Sarson's makes several different kinds of vinegar for people to use:
- 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:
