NORTH COUNTRY SMOKEHOUSE
  • THE SMOKEHOUSE
  • ARTISANAL HISTORY
  • OUR MISSION
  • ANIMAL WELFARE
Welcome to
North Country Smokehouse

Today, our smokehouse sits on the same piece of lush New England countryside where we have been doing business for the last 100 years. Located in historic Claremont, NH, North Country Smokehouse opened a new state-of-the-art, 65,000 square foot facility in October 2018. Our authentic charcuterie features traditional cure recipes, using only the best hand-selected, natural ingredients, and small batch smoking process over embers of local hardwoods.

I received my slab of applewood smoked bacon yesterday, with excitement I cooked some up this morning...........All I have to say is that I want to pack and move to New Hampshire to be closer to your smokehouse (maybe live in it).

-Nina, Saint James, NY Founder

Hand Crafted:
Smoked Low & Slow

All of our products are handmade and slow-smoked in small batches by our expert butchers, wurstmachers, and smokemasters, who never use artificial flavors, fillers, or dyes. We search the world-over in pursuit of the highest quality spices available, beginning right in our own backyard, with fresh, local ingredients from farms, cheesemakers, and sugarmakers nearby.

Investing in the Future:
Certified Humane ® & Organics

We value kinder, more responsible animal practices by offering humanely raised, sustainable food choices. Explore our all-natural, certified humane ® and organic products, free from hormones, antibiotics, and GMO's.

Sam Satzow, Circa 1920
Second Generation, Mr. Satzow Circa 1940,
Third Generation, Mike Satzow, Founding Day Smoke Master
3 GENERATIONS OF AUTHENTIC FLAVOR

My grandfather, Abraham Satzow, was an old world butcher who set up a horse-drawn wooden cart and began selling meat to his New Hampshire neighbors nearly 100 years ago. His careful attention to craftsmanship and traditional European techniques created quite a following, and no matter how many orders he received, he vowed never to sell a sausage or cut of meat to a customer unless it was absolutely the highest possible quality. Today, our passion for the best smoked meats and cheeses follows closely in his footsteps.
-Mike Satzow, NCS Founder

COMPANY MILESTONES

1912
The Satzow family has been operating in the meat industry; harvesting, processing, curing and smoking.

1972
Butcher Block, NCS founding parent company, was established as a local retail meat market.

1978
North Country Smokehouse opened on Sullivan Street extension in Claremont, NH.

1978 to 1984
North Country Smokehouse operated in concert with Butcher Block. In 1984, Mike Satzow sold the Butcher Block retail location in order to focus on the national potential North Country Smokehouse presented. .

1978 to 1984
NCS became a USDA Certified facility, allowing the company to ship across state lines.

1984 to 2016
There were four major additions to the NCS facility in order to meet the growing demands for NCS products.

2015
NCS was acquired by Les Specialites' Produl, a Canadian company leading the U.S. market in the supply of all-natural, certified humane ® and organic pork.

2017
North Country Smokehouse opened their doors to an all new, state of the art, 67,000 sq. foot facility on Syd Clarke Dr. in Claremont, NH. The location was chosen based on North Country’s long standing relationship with the community.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE

Rich with tradition, and rooted in history, we carry the lessons we've come to learn with us, into the future. We are committed to improving lives for our customers, our animals, and our community, by embracing sustainable and humane food production practices whenever possible. Read more

Flavor this good can’t be rushed. That’s why we do everything the old fashioned way. All of our pork comes from a specialty breed of pigs with similar genetics to the duroc, an American domestic breed known for its leanness and flavor. The pigs are raised on a family farm in nearby Montreal, and come to us through suppliers who could tell you as much about the farm and the pigs as we can. Our expert butchers still hand-trim each lean cut of pork, then set them to marinate and cure in dark maple syrup and spices for days instead of minutes. Sausages in natural casings carry the unmistakable taste of Macintosh apples, aged cheddar, lively herbs, and vibrant wines and vinegars. Then the meat is smoked in small batches over glowing embers for up to ten hours, far longer than average. Our German-made smokers run on chunks of high-quality hardwood to create a more intense, humid smoke than the sawdust others use. And the difference is obvious. This patient, artisan process has been perfected over decades to create intricate flavors and distinctive aromas not found anywhere else. Read less

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT NORTH COUNTRY
SMOKEHOUSE

“My wife and I just ate one of your Old Fashioned Kielbasa that I bought last summer at your smokehouse. I brought it with me when we came West for the winter. It was the best Kielbasa that I have ever had; at least as far as I can remember. No more Hillshire or any other kielbasa.”

- RICHARD MOORE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
FOOD THAT’S ROOTED IN PASSION
TASTES BETTER

Some might say there are two ways of doing things: wrong and right. We tend to agree, and strongly favor doing things the right way – with hard work, integrity,period

It's our mission to support culinary excellence by hand crafting artisanal smoked meats with exceptional flavor, premium ingredients, respect for livestock, and the land.

Better Choices Start at the Table

Doing the right thing doesn’t stop with the human aspects of our business. North Country Smokehouse is a member of the Free Farmed program, which assures proper care and handling of livestock. Our belief is that better conditions and humane treatment directly result in a premium quality product. Look for the “Certified Humane” and “Certified Organic” marks on our products.

LOCAL FLAVORS THAT SIMPLY CAN'T BE
IMITATED.

Our ingredients are chosen with an eye toward sustainability and supporting the local economy. While “buy local” is a phrase that’s gaining mainstream momentum, it’s a standard we’ve always practiced.

The closer the farm, the fresher the ingredients…and the more we can play a part in making sure the farms that dot the countryside around our smokehouse can carry on the same family traditions we’ve enjoyed for nearly 100 years.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT NORTH COUNTRY
SMOKEHOUSE

“Integrity, Generosity Define North Country Smokehouse Owner Mike Satzow, the 2009 Richard L. Knowlton Innovation Award Honoree”

- Marketwire, December 2008
BETTER CHOICES BEGIN AT THE TABLE

North Country Smokehouse believes that our business is defined by the choices we make everyday. That’s why we source all natural, Certified Humane ® and Organic pork from duBreton, a Canadian based producer leading both North American and Canada in the supply of humanely raised, sustainable meat.

duBreton is redefining the farming industry though their network of more than 200 farms in Ontario and Quebec, all committed to raising livestock humanely and with respect. Their farms are consistently audited by 3rd party organizations like USDA Organic, and Certified Humane ® Raised & Handled, to ensure they are meeting precise animal welfare standards. By using vertically integrated practices at every stage of production and processing, duBreton has become a benchmark in the agri food industry. From breed selection, to vegetarian feed, antibiotic free practices, and non GMO farming, duBreton is committed to changing the world through the ethical treatment of animals.

When you buy All Natural, Certified Humane ® & Organic products from North Country Smokehouse, you’re supporting the animals right to fair and adequate treatment, access to the outdoors and their ability to roam and engage in natural behaviors.

What Does Certified Humane & *Organic Mean?
We're Glad You Asked!
  • 100% All-Natural Ingredients 
  • Livestock Raised with Shelter 
  • Livestock has Access to Resting Areas 
  • Livestock has Room to Roam & Engage in Natural Behaviors 
  • No Sodium Nitrates or Nitrites 
  • No Added Growth Hormones 
  • No Antibiotics - EVER 
  • *No GMO's 
  • *Vegetarian Fed 
BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCTS, IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY, TODAY AND EVERY DAY.

We proudly display the Certified Humane ® Raised and Handled® symbol on our all-natural and organic products, and remain committed to making the best possible products, in the best possible way, today and every day.