The company was founded in 1934, and was purchased by Sara Lee Corporation in 1971.

Friedrich (Fritz) Bernegger, (February 2, 1904 – April 30, 1988) born in Austria, started the business at the facility in New London, Wisconsin.

[1] Hillshire Farm's primary products are smoked sausage and Polska kielbasa.

Hillshire Farm sausages are about two feet long and in the same shape as a ring bologna.

Due to the popularity of the Hillshire Farm brand of meat products, the Sara Lee Corporation spun off into two companies, the "Hillshire Brands" company and "Sara Lee", in 2012.