Uncovering Where Jimmy Dean Bacon is Made

As a longtime fan of Jimmy Dean’s delicious bacon, I was curious about where exactly it’s made. Jimmy Dean bacon has a signature taste and texture that I love, so I wanted to learn more about its production process.

In this article, I’ll share the details on where Jimmy Dean bacon is manufactured, the history behind the Jimmy Dean brand, and some fun facts about how the bacon is made.

Jimmy Dean Bacon Production Facility

All Jimmy Dean bacon is produced at a 400,000 square foot facility located in Bowling Green Kentucky. This state-of-the-art production plant opened in January 2024 as part of a $355 million investment by Tyson Foods, which owns the Jimmy Dean brand.

The Bowling Green facility is dedicated solely to bacon manufacturing. It’s able to produce a whopping 2 million pounds of bacon per week! This high-tech plant supplies bacon for both Jimmy Dean retail packages as well as food service operations.

History of Jimmy Dean Brand

To understand Jimmy Dean bacon, it helps to know the background of the iconic brand:

• Founded in 1969 by country music singer Jimmy Dean.

• Opened first sausage manufacturing plant in Plainview TX.

• Quickly became known for premium quality breakfast sausages

• Acquired by Sara Lee in 1984, expanded into other breakfast foods.

• Sold to Tyson Foods in 2014 as part of Hillshire Brands acquisition.

So while Jimmy Dean built its reputation on sausages, Tyson Foods expanded production to include bacon after purchasing the brand in 2014.

How Jimmy Dean Bacon is Made

The process of transforming pork bellies into delicious Jimmy Dean bacon involves several steps:

• Trimming – Pork bellies are trimmed to precise specifications.

• Curing – Pork bellies soak for days in a water, salt, sugar and nitrite curing solution.

• Smoking – Bellies are smoked over hardwood chips to absorb iconic bacon flavor.

• Slicing – After chilling, the pork bellies are perfectly sliced to desired thickness.

• Packaging – Slices are packaged in protective materials to maintain freshness.

In addition to traditional slow-cured bacon, Jimmy Dean also makes faster mass-produced bacon using injections and tumblers rather than long soaks. Both methods yield tasty bacon!

Use of Automation and Robotics

To streamline production while keeping workers safe, the Bowling Green plant utilizes cutting-edge automation, including:

• Robots to transport heavy materials like pork bellies.

• Driverless forklifts and autonomous guide vehicles.

• Automated packing and stacking of boxes.

By relying more on robots for dangerous and repetitive tasks, Tyson can protect the health and safety of its employees. The technology also maximizes efficiency.

Why Choose Jimmy Dean?

There are many reasons I choose Jimmy Dean as my go-to bacon brand:

• Iconic taste – Their age-old smoking method produces signature robust bacon flavor.

• Convenient packaging – Available in a range of portion sizes and package types to suit any need.

• Trusted brand – With 50+ years perfecting their craft, you can count on great results.

• Good value – Provides premium bacon taste and textures at a fair, budget-friendly price point.