The Year was 1945

The Year was 1945

In 1945, Ralph F. and Alice Stayer opened a butcher shop and named it after their quaint hometown – Johnsonville, Wisconsin. The delicious sausage made in the Stayer’s butcher shop came from an old family recipe, which made its way down the family tree from 19th-century Austria. This recipe became known as the sausage with the BIG TASTE, and a legacy was born!

During the 1950s

During the 1950s

During the 1950s, the Stayers answered the high demand for Johnsonville Sausage and expanded into nearby communities. In 1970, trucks took to the road and began delivering the BIG TASTE of Johnsonville Sausage to stores throughout Wisconsin.

In 1978

In 1978

In 1978, Ralph C. Stayer, son of Ralph F. and Alice Stayer, became president of the company and launched an expansion by selling Johnsonville products outside Wisconsin. At the same time, a second plant was built and Johnsonville began airing television commercials.

During the Mid 1980s

During the Mid 1980s

During the mid-1980s, a direct sales force was launched, sales increased 20-fold from a decade earlier and distribution expanded to 47 states.

Today

Today

Today, Johnsonville is the most popular brand of sausage in the United States and is available in more than 45 countries. The company remains privately owned.

Our Products

Our Products

Johnsonville is the No. 1 brand of sausage in America. Our award-winning product lines include: Brats, Italian, Smoked, Breakfast, and Snack.

More information about Johnsonville products and recipes featuring the products can be found at www.johnsonville.com.

Company Information

Company Information

Johnsonville has approximately 2,000 members – referred to within the company as “members.” Each member takes ownership of product quality to ensure the excellence and “Big Flavor” of Johnsonville Sausage.

Johnsonville is headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. Johnsonville products are now available in all 50 states and more than 45 countries, including China, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Canada.

Our Mission Statement

We here at Johnsonville have a moral responsibility to create and maintain an environment that requires each member to fully develop their God-given talents. We achieve this by living the Johnsonville Way.

Committed to Animal Well-Being

Johnsonville, LLC, is committed to the well-being of our animals.  It is our moral and ethical obligation to ensure our animals are treated humanely at all times.  As we have always done, we continue to improve equipment and facilities, educate our employees in ethical treatment practices and actively pursue new technology to further enhance our handling practices

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Committed to Animal Well-Being

Johnsonville, LLC, is committed to the well-being of our animals.  It is our moral and ethical obligation to ensure our animals are treated humanely at all times.  As we have always done, we continue to improve equipment and facilities, educate our employees in ethical treatment practices and actively pursue new technology to further enhance our handling practices. 

As part of our active pursuit of enhanced handling practices, we will be working with our pork suppliers to transition from traditional gestation stall housing, to alternative pregnant sow housing, by 2025.  Johnsonville does not raise sows; however, we plan to move toward working with suppliers who can provide housing alternatives that allow for greater movement of the animal, while ensuring their comfort and the safety of their caretakers. 

Johnsonville Sausage has always been, and remains, committed to providing the best, highest-quality experience for our customers and consumers.  That high-quality experience starts with proper and respectful treatment of our animals, and we believe this effort with our pork suppliers further demonstrates Johnsonville’s deep commitment to such practices.  

Committed to Sustainability

At Johnsonville, not only are we committed to providing consumers with great-tasting, high-quality sausage, but we are also dedicated to sustainability.

This commitment includes how we approach animal stewardship and reducing waste, which led us to develop a separate business called Sustainable Swine Resources.

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Committed to Sustainability:

At Johnsonville, not only are we committed to providing consumers with great-tasting, high-quality sausage, but we are also dedicated to sustainability.

So, what does “sustainability” mean to Johnsonville? It means we operate our business in a way that allows us to best benefit our members, the community and our environment. It means working in a way that helps people see we care about our people and planet as much as we care about business. It means recognizing the way we operate today impacts the future of tomorrow.

This commitment includes how we approach animal stewardship and reducing waste, which led us to develop a separate business called Sustainable Swine Resources. SSR helps us be responsible stewards of our swine supply outside of our consumer meat business.

It’s estimated that humans consume about 65% of the pig. At SSR, we strive to be the best stewards of the swine by using the remaining elements of the animal for use in products that enhance or prolong human lives, or, advance the health and well-being of other animals.

The value of the swine material extends into many industries: medical, pharmaceutical, companion animal, industrial and consumer goods. For example, various swine tissue plays an important role in life-saving medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Our SSR business also helps minimize our impact in the waste stream. Learn more at www.ssr-solutions.com.

Johnsonville Sustainability Mission Statement

Johnsonville strives to be the best company in the world, that just happens to make sausage. Johnsonville uses the principles of sustainable development to create the best products, produced by the best people, while eliminating or reducing waste in our business.

Our company includes the principles of sustainability in the development of new products, increased operational efficiency and overall growth of the company. We continue to enrich people’s lives by providing premium products and being a steward of the environment and the communities in which we operate. Further, we help each Johnsonville member develop their God-given talents, which allows us to deliver noticeably better products and services to our customers and consumers.

Johnsonville is committed to reducing its overall impact on the environment through the use of technology, learning and implementation of a comprehensive sustainability process and program.