Dean founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage brand of breakfast sausage, which was originally called "Pure Pork Sausage." The Jimmy Dean Sausage company did well, in part due to Dean's own extemporized, good-humored commercials.

Dean sold the company to the Sara Lee Corporation in 1984 for $80 million. He remained involved as the company spokesman after the takeover, though Sara Lee under the leadership of John Bryan immediately began phasing him out of management duties. By 2004, he was no longer acting as spokesman.

Products:

Tastefuls! (discontinued)
Fresh sausage
Sausage links and patties
Fresh bacon
Full cooked bacon, sausage links and Sausage patties
Breakfast bowls
Sandwiches
Jimmy Dean Skillets
Pancake and sausage on a stick
Omelets
Heat 'N Serve microwavable sausage
Jimmy D's Breakfasts
Jimmy Dean Delights (sandwiches, bowls and sausage)