Perry Way Foods Celebrates Building Completion, Operations Begin

Celebrating in Watertown, Wis.

Perry Way Foods members enjoy a traditional brat fry during a special event celebrating the plant's reopening in Watertown, Wis.

Perry Way Foods Reopens

Johnsonville owner and chairman Ralph Stayer speaks to members and their families during a celebration of the company returning to work after a May 2015 fire destroyed the company's original facility.

Back in Business

Dana Presley, the plant coordinator in Watertown, Wis., speaks to the crowd during a company event that celebrated the reopening after a May 2015 fire.

Back in Business

Johnsonville owner and chairman Ralph Stayer enjoys a bratwurst with members in the Watertown, Wis. facility.

Celebrating & Grilling

The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill was on hand to celebrate the reopening of the company's plant in Watertown, Wis.

Summary

Company retained all 120 jobs since a fire destroyed the original facility in 2015, and plans to add 35 more positions in 2016.

Perry Way Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, recently completed renovation of a building at 1222 Perry Way in Watertown, Wis. The company, which supports Johnsonville’s fresh sausage business, purchased the building in August 2015, after the facility it previously operated at 104 Division St. was destroyed by a fire in May 2015. The company had been operating in Watertown since 1981.

During the down time, the company’s 120 members (employees) stayed busy with community service and continuing education, all while earning a full wage. Members served nearly 10,000 hours with local organizations like the Rock River Rescue Foundation, Octagon House and the Watertown Municipal Airport. They also completed 9,745 hours of coursework such as Critical Core Manufacturing, ESL classes and general math and computer skills through a partnership with Madison Area Technical College.

“We are truly grateful for the support we’ve received from the Watertown community and our local government over the last year,” said Ralph Stayer, owner and chairman, Johnsonville Sausage. “Because of Wisconsin’s favorable business climate, we were able to retain all 120 jobs from our original facility, and wevplan to add at least 35 new jobs this year.”

The company has invested $36 million into the local economy through the project.

Johnsonville’s Big Taste Grill provided lunch to members, project partners and community supporters to celebrate the milestone.

About Perry Way Foods

Perry Way Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnsonville Sausage, the No. 1 national sausage brand featuring: brats, burgers Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links, breakfast sausage in fully cooked and fresh varieties, meatballs and summer sausage. Johnsonville employs approximately 1,600 members. Founded in 1945 by the late Ralph F. and Alice Stayer, the company remains privately owned today. Visit www.jobs.johnsonville.com to view open positions at Perry Way Foods.