Johnsonville gets presidential exporting award

President George W. Bush (second from left) welcomes Bill Morgan (left) and Tom Danneker (second from right) of Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, recipients of the 2007 President’s “E” Award and “E” Star Award for Export Achievement May 20 in the Oval Office. Also pictured is U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R–Fond du Lac).
White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Since 1994, Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, has been committed to increasing its international reach with the goal of being the number one sausage brand in the world.

The company took one step closer to its goal with the recent achievement of the President’s “E” Award for Export Excellence.

President George W. Bush and U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez presented Johnsonville with the award at the White House May 20. The “E” Award, the highest honor the federal government can give to an American exporting company, recognizes U.S. firms for their competitive achievements in world markets and their part in increasing U.S. exports abroad.

“Johnsonville Sausage is helping to keep America competitive in the global marketplace,” said Gutierrez. “I commend them for contributing to last year’s record in goods and services. Thanks to Johnsonville and the thousands of others that compete in the global market, U.S. exports last year rose 12.6 percent over the previous year to more than $1.6 trillion, making an important contribution to U.S. economic growth.”

Johnsonville Sausage received the award based on the company’s achievement in supporting export growth in the U.S. business community.

“Johnsonville made the strategic decision years ago to invest in expanding the company’s activities outside the United States, as a way to increase channels for growth,” said Johnsonville president Bill Morgan. “This strategy, based upon brand development in international markets and building an international infrastructure, has allowed us to grow so that we’re currently exporting to 30 countries around the world.”

Through extensive consumer research, Johnsonville produces several products solely for certain markets and tailored to the local flavors of that country. Products include Lemon and Herb sausage in Japan, Honey and Garlic sausage in Canada, and Meridionale sausage in France.

This research, along with Johnsonville’s sustained commitment to export expansion and the company’s impressive increase in sales over the last three years were further cited as successes by Gutierrez.

The “E” Award is the highest honor the federal government can give to an American exporting company. This marks the 46th anniversary of the Presidential “E” Award created by John F. Kennedy in 1961.

The President’s “E” Award may be given to persons, firms and organizations engaged in the marketing of products that make significant contributions to the expansion of the export trade of the United States.