SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. — A closure of a Johnsonville processing plant in eastern Illinois will bring 100 new jobs to Wisconsin.
The company announced on June 2 that it is closing its Momence, Illinois plant, affected 274 staff at that packing plant, which was built in 1962 and producing Johnsonville products since 1995.
In a statement, the company “determined it could best optimize its fresh sausage operations at its other, newer, locations in Wisconsin and Kansas, where Johnsonville will invest to accommodate the additional volume and position the company to address current and future growth.”
“As a result, Johnsonville’s Watertown facility will add a second shift, bringing about 75 new jobs to the community, while the Sheboygan Falls campus will add about 25 new jobs. Hiring for these new roles is already underway and will continue over the summer.”
Our partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal report that the company has expanded its reach in Southeast Wisconsin, including purchasing a minority stake in the Milwaukee Brewers and becoming the official sausage sponsor for the Milwaukee Bucks.
SHEBOYGAN FALLS (June 5, 2025) – As part of its operations optimization strategy, Johnsonville announced plans to add about 100 additional jobs in Wisconsin. These new jobs will support fresh sausage production the company is transferring to its Watertown and Sheboygan Falls, Wis., facilities, following the closure of its Momence, Ill., manufacturing facility this week.
As a result, Johnsonville’s Watertown facility will add a second shift, bringing about 75 new jobs to the community, while the Sheboygan Falls campus will add about 25 new jobs. Hiring for these new roles is already underway and will continue over the summer.
On Monday, Johnsonville informed 274 Members at its Momence, Ill., location that it had made the difficult decision to immediately close the Momence Packing Co. plant – which was built in 1962 and has produced Johnsonville products since 1995. The company determined it could best optimize its fresh sausage operations at its other, newer, locations in Wisconsin and Kansas, where Johnsonville will invest to accommodate the additional volume and position the company to address current and future growth.
Johnsonville will immediately begin transferring some of its equipment and assets from the Momence facility to their other manufacturing locations. By the end of 2025, Johnsonville plans to demolish the aging Momence facility.
In addition, Johnsonville will make significant capital equipment investments in the Meadowside and Riverside production facilities on its Sheboygan Falls campus, building additional capacity to support current and future consumer demand for fully cooked sausage products.
Candidates interested in positions at either the Watertown facility or in Sheboygan Falls can apply at Careers.Johnsonville.com.
