JOHNSONVILLE GETS THE PARTY STARTED FOR AMERICA'S 249TH BIRTHDAY, TELLS THE NATION WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER

Citing a Fun Deficit in America, Johnsonville Debuts 249-Link Party Starter, Available to 249 Lucky Winners

SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The countdown to America's 250th birthday is well underway—there's even a clock on the White House website. But Johnsonville won't wait for a round number to get the party started.

This year, America's No. 1 sausage brand is kickstarting the country's 249th birthday celebration, tackling what it calls America's "fun deficit." New findings from the 2025 Johnsonville National Temperature Check, conducted by The Harris Poll, reveal Americans feel disconnected—and fun is taking a hit. According to the survey:

• 78% say they are spending less time hanging out with others
• 64% agree having fun with people is harder than it used to be
• 90% believe it's important for communities to have fun together, especially when things aren't perfect.
• 91% agree we make more progress when we have fun together.
• 91% say delicious food makes hanging out more fun.

"We know lots of organizations—even the White House—are focused on America's 250th in 2026," said Jamie Schmelzer, Vice President of Marketing at Johnsonville. "But the data is clear: America needs fun now. We're encouraging people to celebrate our 249th because many of us agree that having fun together is an important part of making progress."

Johnsonville is urging the nation to start the party now through new commercial spots and the ultimate birthday gift: The Johnsonville Party Starter: an 80-pound, 249-link sausage variety pack, shipped straight to 249 lucky winners' doorsteps. Big enough to feed an entire block – maybe two – the Party Starter is designed to bring people together. The brand partnered with Milwaukee-based agency Hold Fast to bring the 249 vision to life.

"Culturally, Americans need togetherness more than ever, and the Party Starter is a direct response to that," said Brian Ganther, Chief Creative Officer at Hold Fast. "Americans are having a hard time having fun together, but delicious food helps. So we're shipping an absurd amount of sausage – more than one person can handle – to bring Americans of every star and stripe together."

Starting today, fans can enter to win the limited-edition Party Starter at www.partystarter249.com by submitting a short entry – 249 characters or fewer – about the ultimate "party starter" in their life or, in other words, a person they know who brings people together for fun and food. The contest runs through June 16. Winners will be chosen and notified by June 17, and the Party Starter packs will be shipped directly to the winners the week of June 30, just in time for the Fourth of July.

Each giant box is packed with Johnsonville favorites like Original Brats, Beddar With Cheddar Smoked Sausage, and the brand's newest offering: Hot Dog. Also included? Crowd-pleasing Summer Sausage, exclusive 249th swag, and a collapsible hand cart to help winners roll up ready to grill.

The campaign builds on Johnsonville's Keep It Juicy platform, launched in 2024 to champion unity over division. This year's message: no more waiting, the time to celebrate is now.

To bring that message home, Johnsonville's new 30-second and 60-second ads blend historical nods with tongue-in-cheek energy, reminding viewers the best moments don't need to be neatly numbered. These 249 anthem spots are now airing nationally across linear, digital and social platforms.

In addition, Johnsonville will help America celebrate its 249th birthday to the fullest at an iconic summer event to be announced at a later date.

For contest details, campaign content, and more ways to celebrate 249, follow @Johnsonville on Instagram and join the conversation using #PartyStarter249.

ABOUT JOHNSONVILLE, LLC

Founded in 1945, Johnsonville is the leading national sausage brand, with more than 80 varieties sold across 40+ countries and served in over 75 stadiums in the U.S. The company remains family-owned and employs nearly 4,000 sausage-obsessed team members globally.

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SOURCE Johnsonville