About Sarsons
Sarson's is Britain's most iconic vinegar brand, first brewed by Thomas Sarson in 1794 in Craven Street, London. For over 230 years, the brand has been synonymous with quality British malt vinegar, instantly recognisable by its distinctive pear-shaped bottles with flip-top caps. The company's growth accelerated under Henry James Sarson, who renamed the product "Sarson's Virgin Vinegar" in 1884. By 1893, the business operated from "The Vinegar Works" in Shoreditch, run as a family enterprise by Henry and his sons. The brand went through several ownership changes: acquired by Crosse & Blackwell in 1929, then Nestlé in 1960, before Premier Foods sold it to Japanese vinegar giant Mizkan in 2012 for £41 million. Today, Sarson's produces approximately six million litres of vinegar annually at its Middleton, Greater Manchester facility, where production moved in 1968. The brand remains one of the few producers still using the historic method of maturation in oak vats—a tradition spanning over two centuries. In 2025, Mizkan announced a £17 million investment in the Middleton facility to expand production capacity. Sarson's enjoys exceptional market presence with 87% brand awareness and presence in 23.9% of UK households. The range includes Brown Malt Vinegar, Distilled Malt Vinegar (both Coeliac UK certified gluten-free), and pickling vinegar. Sarson's remains the quintessential British condiment for fish and chips.