Johnsonville (company)

Johnsonville is a sausage company headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.^[1] Founded in 1945, by Carl Hirsch, when he opened a butcher shop and named it after his hometown community of Johnsonville, Wisconsin. Ralph Stayer became a business partner and took over the business when Carl Hirsch abruptly died at age 56. it is one of the largest sausage producers in the United States and the largest sausage brand by revenue in the United States.^[2] Johnsonville sausage is available in more than 45 countries. Privately owned, the company has approximately 4,000 employees and it is run by CEO Don Fussner.^[3][1]

Johnsonville, LLC

Company type	Private
Industry	Food processing
Founded	1945; 80 years ago (1945)
Founder	Carl Hirsch
Headquarters	Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, U.S.
Products	Sausage
Number of employees	4,000
Website	johnsonville.com

In 2024, based on a survey of 170,000 U.S.-based workers at American companies, Johnsonville was named among the nation's top midsize employers. Johnsonville also made this list in 2022 and 2023.^[4]

Corporate headquarters

Products

Johnsonville produces over 70 different types of sausage products, including: brats, grillers, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links, breakfast sausage in fully cooked and fresh varieties, chicken sausage, meatballs and summer sausage.^[5]

Harvest Facilities

In 2014, Johnsonville had the most sow harvest capacity in the United States, with the facilities to harvest 3,400 pigs daily.^[6]

Sponsorships

In 2017, Johnsonville became the title sponsor for the American Cornhole League.^[7] Explaining why it sponsors cornhole, the company's director over strategic growth said the game is played, "where people enjoy our products--in backyards during barbecues and tailgate parties."^[8]

Also in 2016 Johnsonville began sponsoring BaconFest, a fundraising event in Naples, Florida, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Pelican Bay. The one-day event draws 7,000 people.^[9]