Her Career: Sarah Wall, Co-Founder of 52° North

We’ve discovered a drink that is 100% delicious and 100% Canadian!

52° North is the first company in North America to produce a beverage of pure North American birch tree sap (hand-tapped in B.C. at 52 degrees latitude). Now the newest hydration beverage, 52° North birch tree sap could be an excellent way to begin a healthier new year.

Used for centuries as a health elixir in Northern Europe, birch tree sap has no added water and is rich in electrolytes and antioxidants. With its incredible nutritional profile, it’s used to improve skin appearance, support the immune system, eliminate cellulite, treat inflammation, aid digestion, and promote vitality. Birch tree sap is also only 1/6 the calories of coconut water and is incredibly hydrating (it is even used by many NHL players and pro-athletes for hydration). We’re sold!

We got a chance to speak with Sarah Wall, one of the co-founders behind 52° North.

Can you briefly describe your career journey?

I actually started my career in the music business. I was working at Bruce Allen Talent (management for artists like Michael Bublé, Jann Arden and Bryan Adams) and trying to juggle career and parenting of my two little ones. As a busy but health-conscious mom, I became really frustrated that there weren’t healthy snack options for families like mine. So I left the music biz to start a health beverage company with my food scientist dad.

During the launch of our first product (gnubees) we were approached by Gerry Mitzel, who had been tapping birch sap for his wife and wanted to create a commercial beverage of B.C. birch sap. We fell in love with Gerry, birch sap, and the exciting health and environmental benefits, so the three of us decided to launch 52° North. That was about two years ago and now here we are!

What made you decide to launch this business (i.e., how did you first discover birch tree sap)?

I had never heard of birch sap before Gerry walked through our door with a 4-gallon jug of sap that he’d tapped. It’s actually not a new concept though. Birch sap has been used as a health elixir for centuries in other parts of the world, especially northern Europe. What really excites me about birch sap is that it’s local and sustainable to North America. Coconut water is a business worth billions, but we don’t grow them here! So the opportunity to tap into (pardon the pun) a sustainable and delicious natural beverage here in our own backyard was really exciting to us.

What do you love most about working in this field?

I love creating products that have a role in the active and healthy lifestyles of our consumers. The food business is changing drastically as consumers demand better options for what they put in their bodies. It’s exciting to be in this business at a time when the rule book is being rewritten… or in our case, thrown out entirely!

Any advice for women looking to start their own business?

Have a good support network. Honestly, without the support, advice and encouragement of my “village,” this wouldn’t be any fun at all…and it should be fun. Fear of failure is a great motivator, but I think having a passionate, unwavering, “she’s-kinda-crazy” belief in yourself and your products is essential to get where you need to go.

Just for fun, give us your best pitch for 52° North!

No problem! I’m totally sap happy!

At 1/6^th the calories of coconut water, 52° North birch sap isn’t just refreshing and delicious, it’s also low in sugar and full of antioxidants and trace minerals that are great for overall health. 52° North birch sap is also completely sustainable. Gerry and his team continue to hand-tap all of our sap here in B.C. in a way that doesn’t damage the trees—which means you can enjoy a great beverage that doesn’t come at the cost of the same places you love to enjoy…and that’s why I’m sappy for 52° North!

Shop 52° North here. Follow on Instagram and Twitter.