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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 and help others do the same. We achieve this by living the Johnsonville Way.
In 1945, Ralph F. and Alice Stayer opened up a butcher shop with another family and named it after their Wisconsin hometown – Johnsonville. Little did they know that their venture would lay the foundation for an iconic brand loved worldwide. Their shop featured delicious meats, including sausage. Ralph F. was determined to make his brat better – not with scraps of meat like other butchers used. Instead, his recipe used premium cuts of pork, better spices and a better grinding technique. When sales of his bratwurst started to exceed sales of hamburger, the Stayers knew they were onto something.
During the 1950s, the popularity of Johnsonville Sausage exploded out of local neighborhoods and spread to nearby communities, capturing their hearts and taste buds. In 1970, Johnsonville Sausage became available throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.
Johnsonville is – and always has been – family owned and operated, since it was started in 1945 in the town that bears our name. The products we sell in the U.S. are all made in our Midwest facilities.
In 1978, Ralph C. Stayer, son of Ralph F. and Alice Stayer, became president of the company and grew interest in Johnsonville beyond Wisconsin. To meet increased demand, a second plant was built. Johnsonville ads began airing on TV, bringing the mouthwatering appeal of their sausage into living rooms across the nation.
During the mid-1980s, the big, bold flavor of Johnsonville Sausage became a nationwide phenomenon. Sales increased 20-fold from a decade earlier, and a direct sales force was launched, expanding distribution to 47 states. Making Johnsonville Sausage a household name.
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 and still relies on the same values and work ethic that the Stayer family instilled in its family-owned butcher shop in a small Wisconsin town.
It's a protein and flavor rock star! Whether you enjoy grilling it, cooking it or learning about it, you'll find everything you need to know about preparing sausage in a variety of ways, from the sausage authorities at Johnsonville. Learn how to sausage and experience new ways to prepare it for a multitude of meals!
