Interviews
They're Bringing a 500-Year-Old Butcher Back to America
How Sara Sturges is relaunching England's oldest family butcher for a new generation of American customers.
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Most brands are built around what's next. RJ Balson & Son is built around what has always been.
England's oldest family butcher, with a history stretching back to 1515, is making its return to the United States. After the brand's previous American operation closed, former customers kept calling and emailing, asking when the sausages would come back.
Sara Sturges heard them. She spent more than a year rebuilding production, packaging, branding, distribution, and the website from the ground up — then relaunched in February 2026. We sat down with Sara to talk about the weight of 500 years of history, why your first customers sometimes find you, and what it means to bring a legacy brand back to life.
The Product and Audience: What is RJ Balson & Son and who is it for?
RJ Balson & Son is England's oldest family butcher, with a history dating back to 1515. Now, after more than 500 years and 26 generations of family butchery, the brand is being relaunched in the United States. Made in America using premium pork and traditional British seasoning, RJ Balson's authentic bangers combine centuries of heritage with modern production and nationwide shipping for customers looking to experience classic British sausages.
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The Spark: When did you launch, and what made you say "I need to build this"?
For me, this wasn't simply another startup. I grew up around the Balson family business and understood what the brand meant to generations of customers. Even after the company's previous U.S. operation closed, former customers continued calling and emailing, asking when the sausages would return. After building brands throughout my career and working across Europe and the U.S., I believed I had the experience to bring the family business back. Reviving a brand with more than 500 years of history felt like both an opportunity and a responsibility.
The Launch: When did you launch and how did you build early momentum?
The relaunch officially happened in February 2026, following more than a year spent rebuilding nearly every part of the business. Production, packaging, branding, distribution, and the website all had to be recreated from the ground up. Instead of relying on traditional advertising, we focused on telling the story behind the business — sharing the journey of bringing a 500-year-old family brand back to life while reconnecting with former customers and introducing the legacy to a new audience.
The First 100: How did you find your first customers?
In many ways, the first customers found us. Because RJ Balson previously sold products in the U.S., a loyal group of longtime fans had been waiting years for the brand's return. Those early supporters immediately placed orders, shared the relaunch with friends and family, and helped spread the word through genuine enthusiasm. Word of mouth became the foundation for the brand's next chapter.
The Advice: What would you tell a first-time founder in their first 90 days?
Choose your partners carefully. The people you surround yourself with matter just as much as the product you're building. Find collaborators who share your values, trust experts in their fields, and remember that your job isn't to know everything. Your job is to make good decisions with the right people around you.
The Reality Check: What is the hardest part of this journey that people don't see on social media?
Most people only see the finished product. They don't see the countless decisions involving manufacturing, packaging, logistics, regulations, distribution, and cash flow that happen before launch. Building a food brand requires patience, resilience, and the willingness to solve new problems every single day. Those behind-the-scenes moments rarely make social media, but they're what determine whether a business succeeds.
The Milestone: What has been your biggest "we made it" moment so far?
For me, the defining moment wasn't designing the brand. It was watching the very first production run leave the facility. Seeing finished products shipped to customers made years of rebuilding feel real. It marked the beginning of the next chapter for a business that has been serving customers for more than five centuries.
The AI Trend: How have you used AI to help your business grow?
I think of AI as a force multiplier. I use it to research unfamiliar topics, pressure-test ideas, analyze information, and draft first versions of documents. While AI helps me move faster, I believe critical thinking and human judgment still make the final decisions. Technology can accelerate the process, but founders still have to lead it.
The Horizon: What should we be excited to see from RJ Balson & Son in the next six months?
The next six months will be busy. We plan to introduce two new products: Garlic & Herb Bangers and Breakfast Bangers. We're also expanding into wholesale and foodservice while preparing for additional retail partnerships. With the upcoming World Cup generating excitement across North America, we hope even more Americans will discover authentic British bangers.
The Recommendations: What are your favorite under-the-radar brands right now?
CPG: Eat Mouma's
Tech: FOTOFOTO
Gear: FOTOFOTO
The Shop: Where can readers find RJ Balson & Son?
Order directly at rjbalson.com.
The Connection: Where is the best place to follow along?
Follow along on Instagram at @rjbalsonandson, or visit rjbalson.com.
Authentic British bangers, made in America, shipped nationwide.
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