Historical Highlights
Date Posted: 04/07/2007
1945 Ralph and Alice Stayer opened a butcher shop and named it after their quaint hometown of Johnsonville, Wisconsin. The delicious sausage made in the Stayer’s shop was from an old family recipe that found its way down the family tree from 19th century Austria.
1950s – 1960s The BIG TASTE of Johnsonville sausage was in such high demand that the Stayers were able to expand to three retail grocery meat markets in nearby communities. The Stayer’s children, Ralph C. and Launa, both became involved in sausage making and promoted the expansion of the company’s wholesale business.
1970s Colorful Johnsonville trucks began gracing state highways to deliver the BIG TASTE of Johnsonville sausage products to grocery outlets throughout Wisconsin.
1978 Ralph C. became president of Johnsonville and launched the company into a major expansion by shipping its products out-of-state. A second plant was built and in 1981 Johnsonville aired its first TV commercial that featured the unforgettable “Charlie Murphy’s cooking Johnsonville Brats!”
1984 Launa Stayer started the company’s first direct sales force and continued to distribute to new markets across the country. The 1980s saw a sales increase of 20 times more than a decade ago. Johnsonville sausage would now be distributed to 47 states.
1995 Johnsonville Sausage celebrated its 50th anniversary by sponsoring a giant outdoor event, free to the public, at the local fairgrounds. To commemorate the anniversary, Johnsonville launched the first Big Taste Grill, the world’s largest touring grill. Traveling the country, the Big Taste Grill makes appearances throughout the year promoting the great taste of Johnsonville sausage while supporting fundraising efforts in the communities in which it appears.
1998 Johnsonville partnered with McDonald’s Restaurants to bring bratwurst to the masses. Originally a test in Wisconsin, Johnsonville Brats became such a popular McDonald’s menu item, that the brats have been offered nationwide