Ventura Foods does offer custom blended dressings and sauces of all kinds, but also has a large selection of existing products. It offers at least 40 distinct formulations for ranch dressings and manufactures about 20 different types of mayonnaise. “In most cases, our products are used as ingredients. We may sell a ranch formula to a manufacturer, who will then market it to several customers. The manufacturer may want a different version for each customer. Or, the manufacturer may be looking for a signature item. For example, he may use one of our ranch formulations on a chicken breast as a marinade and sell it that way. That uniqueness allows him to create a brand identity which is profitable,” Stynes explains.

Mayonnaise is another item with a lot of variability. The company's 20 or so mayonnaise bases differ in taste, texture and viscosity. There is a mayonnaise that is pink, similar to Thousand Island dressing. Lately, customers have been very excited about mayonnaise with hot flavor profiles, such as those that include chipotle peppers.