Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing

Project 3
Food Product Development
Vegan Ranch
NUTR 405 -- Fall 2017, Section 3
December 13, 2017

Kerry Linne
Allison McGlin
Matt Ruby
Lauren Siegel

Product Description & Use

 Bright Mountain Ranch offers a nutritious vegan ranch dressing to be used by everyone
for any snack or meal throughout the day. This product is made from a shortlist of raw
ingredients, creating a great alternative from commercial dressings. Bright Mountain Ranch
Dressing uses tofu as a base, incorporating almond milk, canola oil, garlic, lemon juice, and
some spices. Enjoy Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing as an addition to your meal!

Product Formulation & Ingredients

The goal of this new product is to create a delicious, protein packed, low-fat plant-based
ranch dip/dressing. Ranch dip or dressing is very popular amongst individuals, but unfortunately
most ranch products on the market are packed with saturated fat, sodium, and preservatives,
while lacking in protein and vitamins. To steady these nutrient intakes in the body and provide
healthy ingredients, this product satisfies nutrient needs as well as tasting exactly like generic
ranch that can be found in the store.
This product was created, refined, and tested in the kitchen of San Diego State
University’s PFSA building. Bright Mountain Ranch involves no cooking. All ingredients are
prepped and combined together, then left in the refrigerator to be stored.

Recipe

½ of 14 oz. block of tofu

⅓ cup almond milk
Lemon juice from half of a lemon
2 tsp. dill
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 ½ tsp. mustard powder
1 garlic clove
3 tbsp. oregano
1 tbsp. green onion
1 tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. salt
Serves: 15

Directions: In a food processor add tofu, lemon juice, and almond milk, then blend until smooth.
Next, add dill, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, paprika, mustard powder, garlic clove, and
oregano and blend until mixed evenly. Add the green onion and blend until smooth. Finally, add
the canola oil and salt, and blend once more until smooth. Transfer mixture to a container with
an air-tight lid to store in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

Tofu - good source of protein, contains all eight essential amino acids, excellent source of iron
and calcium, and the minerals manganese, selenium, and phosphorous.

Dill - antioxidant that contains flavonoids to provide anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties,
good source of calcium, manganese, and iron.

Apple cider vinegar - regulates blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol, reduces blood pressure,
prevents germ growth, high in potassium.

Onion powder - low in sodium, fat and calories, contains calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Paprika - antioxidant food, contains Vitamins A, E, and B-6, also contains iron and capsaicin
which has blood pressure lowering qualities.

Mustard powder - contains antioxidant properties from amino acid cysteine, phytonutrients,
minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and phosphorous, and a good source of omega-
3 fatty acids.

Lemon juice - low in calories, rich source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and
pectin fiber, contains traces of iron and Vitamin A, also has antibacterial properties.

Garlic clove - low in calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, contains manganese,
Vitamin C and B6, and contains calcium and selenium.

Oregano - contains Vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, Vitamin
B6, calcium, and potassium.

Green onion - good source of Thiamin, Vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc and
copper, great source of fiber, Vitamin A, C, K, riboflavin, calcium, and iron.

Almond milk - contains monounsaturated fats, low in calories per serving, lowers LDL
cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol, contains calcium and Vitamin D.

Canola oil - lowers LDL cholesterol, contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, good source of
Vitamin E, contains no cholesterol.
Salt - maintains electrolyte balance, containing magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium.

Food Science Literature

The American Heart Association (AHA) released an article looking at the food sources
that contain saturated fat and found that consuming foods that have high levels of saturated fat
increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It states that the majority of saturated fats occur
naturally in many foods, particularly high in animal products. The AHA recommends aiming for
a dietary pattern that achieves 5-6% of calories from saturated fat, which equals about 13 grams
of saturated fat per day (AHA, 2015). However, according to the CDC, Americans are
consuming about 26 grams of saturated fat daily, which is double the maximum recommendation
stated by the AHA (CDC, 2015). While most people are not willing to give up something that is
a staple to their daily lives, the intention of this food product is not to substitute an ingredient,
but to add health-enhancing benefits that will appeal to someone who is willing to make a
modest sacrifice for a product that tastes very similar to an original, full fat, low nutrient-
containing ranch dressing.
Two large components of ranch dressing are buttermilk and mayonnaise. The use of tofu
mimics the viscosity of mayonnaise while adding more protein and reducing fat. Also, while
mayonnaise contains eggs which can be detrimental to those who are allergic or sensitive, tofu is
a plant-based product that can be consumed by those who are tolerant to soy. Tofu is unique for
its multifunctional characteristics and nutritional profile. It is a great source of protein while
containing all eight essential amino acids, and it is rich in iron and calcium as well as other
vitamins and minerals. Protein is a building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood, as
it is used to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. It also increases antioxidant
activity, free-radical scavenging capacity, heart disease prevention, and anticancer activity (Yao
and others 2004).
Replacing buttermilk with almond milk yields much more nutritional benefits than a
generic ranch dressing. While buttermilk contains many additives and preservatives to prevent
consumers from getting ill, the ingredients in almond milk are minimal yet beneficial. One study
showed that when almond milk was consumed, the enterocytes in the epithelial cells of the small
intestine had a lower inflammatory response than cow’s milk (Bernat and others 2012). Almond
milk is also a great addition to the diet because it is low in calories and sugars, while containing a
a good source of monounsaturated fats. For an avid milk consumer, this can help to maintain a
healthy body weight.
Apple cider vinegar contains many health benefits. The decision to add apple cider
vinegar to this ranch dressing came from its chemical properties as well as its health properties.
It is known to lower blood lipids which decreases the risk for atherosclerosis and essentially
other cardiovascular complications (Beheshti and others 2012). The addition of all of the spices
into this product are not only for flavoring, but for the nutritional components they all contain.
Dill is an antioxidant that contains anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, similarly to
paprika, which contains capsaicin that helps to lower blood pressure. Paprika, along with
oregano and green onion, also contain many vitamins that are beneficial to the daily needs.
Having all of these benefits combined from every ingredient is why it is essential to include in
Bright Mountain Ranch.

Reference Appendix A for the Trial Chart.

Trial #1

For trial #1, the tofu, dill, paprika, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, garlic,
almond milk, oregano, and green onions were used to formulate this recipe. After it was made,
feedback showed that this product was overpowered by garlic (3 cloves), and it did not taste like
ranch dressing.

Trial #2

For trial #2, all ingredients remained the same except for the garlic. Because of the intense
flavor, the garlic was reduced to only one clove. This added a less intense flavor, however it still
did not taste similar to a ranch dressing.

Trial #3

For trial #3, all ingredients remained the same with the addition of canola oil. Canola oil was
added to the product because since there was a lack of fat in the product, it was thought that it
needed a small source in order to achieve the desired consistency. After adding the canola oil,
there was still something missing in flavor although the consistency was on point.

Trial #4

In trial #4 all ingredients remained the same with the addition of salt. After tasting the product, it
was decided that it finally tasted similar to a ranch dressing in taste and mouthfeel. The final
recipe for Bright Mountain Ranch includes tofu, dill, paprika, onion powder, apple cider vinegar,
lemon juice, garlic, almond milk, oregano, green onions, canola oil, and salt. Each ingredient
adds to the flavor and texture appropriately to make Bright Mountain Ranch a delicious, healthy
dressing or dip option.

Product Performance

Water Activity
 Each sample batch was mixed thoroughly in order to acquire a homogenized sample. To
maintain uniformity, 1 tbsp. of Bright Mountain Ranch was measured per sample. A sample of
store bought generic ranch was sampled as well in order to compare results from the new product
to one that is already on the market. Two samples were ran for each trial that was tested. Data
was analyzed by Excel software (Microsoft, 2010). Results were visually represented as Figure 1
shows for water activity.

Figure 1: Water activity of Bright Mountain Ranch compared to a store bought brand using the
Rotronic Hygrolab.

The Rotronic Hygrolab (Rotronic Instrument Corp, Hauppauge NY) was used to test for
water activity. The mean value for Bright Mountain Ranch was 0.94aw. Food products with a
water activity higher than 0.85 are distinguished as moist foods and require refrigeration storage
or other barriers to prevent pathogen growth (Food Safety Extension Program - Clemson
University). As a largely perishable product, the water activity for Bright Mountain Ranch
reflects the standards of identity for salad dressings and dips as established by the Code of
Regulations Title 21 (FDA, 2017). The mean value of water activity for the store bought ranch
was 0.92aw. The fact that Bright Mountain Ranch’s water activity is slightly higher than the store
bought brand may indicate earlier spoilage. However, the high water activity results of Bright
Mountain Ranch is correlated with the product goals of a good flowability similar to the ranch
products that are on the market today.

pH
 The Denver Meridian pH meter (Denver Instruments Inc., Denver, CO) was used to
determine the pH of Bright Mountain Ranch. The mean pH value for Bright Mountain Ranch
was 4.96. The proper pH of tofu during processing is 7.2 (pH of Foods and Food Products,
2017). This product is not nearly as neutral (or slightly basic) as tofu is due to the apple cider
vinegar, which has an acidic pH of 2.9. The mean pH value for the store bought ranch was 4.12,
indicating a slightly more acidic pH. Refer to Figure 2 for the results of the pH of Bright
Mountain Ranch.

Figure 2: pH of Bright Mountain Ranch compared to a store bought brand using the Denver
Meridian pH
meter.

Consistometer

The Bostwick Consistometer was used to measure the consistency of Bright Mountain
Ranch. The flowability of the product reached 0.5 cm in one minute. The flowability of the store
bought ranch reached 0.25 cm in one minute. This indicates that the store bought ranch was more
viscous and therefore less runny. However, Bright Mountain Ranch does not have any artificial
ingredients to emulsify or thicken the product unlike the store bought brand which contains many
additives and artificial ingredients which may have led to a thicker product. Refer to Figure 3 for
the results of the Bostwick Consistometer on Bright Mountain Ranch.

Figure 3: Consistency of Bright Mountain Ranch compared to a store bought brand using the
Bostwick Consistometer.
Market Potential

A study was conducted by Persistence Market Research that showed the global plant-
based proteins market is anticipated to grow at a robust rate to reach a significant value by the
end of 2025. Currently in 2017, the market valuation for plant-based proteins is 10.5 billion
dollars. However, projecting out to 2025 the market valuation is projected to increase to 16.3
billion dollars, which equates to a 64.4% increase. For a growing number of individuals, plant-
based proteins are looked upon as healthy alternatives to their traditional dairy/animal protein
counterparts. Moreover, the soy protein product type is the largest segment of this market and is
anticipated to dominate the global market by product type, with respect to market value, by the
end of 2025. The soy protein segment portion of the market was valued at 6.8 billion dollars in
2017 and is estimated to increase to 10.4 billion by the end of 2025. In conclusion, this segment
is expected to create an incremental dollar opportunity of 3.6 billion dollar increase between
2017 and 2025 (Mintel 2014).
Bright Mountain Ranch caters to a large market because of its delicious taste, health
factors, and the fact that it is vegan-friendly. Competitors such as Hidden Valley Ranch differs
from Bright Mountain Ranch because their product is processed and contains egg yolk as well as
vegetable oil, a cheap and unhealthy option. This product has a limited market as vegans or those
on a plant-based diet cannot consume it. It contains 14 grams of fat, 2.5 of which is saturated fat,
10 milligrams of cholesterol, and 260 milligrams of sodium. Furthermore, Bright Mountain
Ranch’s other competitor, Lifehouse Buttermilk Ranch contains buttermilk, skim milk, egg yolk,
and gums, showing that they also do not cater to vegans. Also, a 14 oz. bottle of their ranch is
$6.99, which shows that they have a specific target market that is not inclusive of everyone. See
Appendix B for a competitive analysis of Bright Mountain Ranch and its two competitors.
 Bright Mountain Ranch not only advertises itself as a salad dressing or dip, it also has
several other uses. Since Bright Mountain Ranch is vegan friendly, it is exciting to explore all of
the potential uses it has as it allows another food option for vegans to use in their daily lives.
Bright Mountain Ranch can be used in several different sauce recipes and even bread recipes.
For those who live a plant-based lifestyle and are enthusiastic about making new recipes to fulfill
their cravings, Bright Mountain Ranch will be a desirable and successful product in the market
today.

Sensory/Consumer Tests

Thirty staff members, fifteen males and fifteen females, were randomly selected at
Barona Resort & Casino to participate in the sensory evaluation of Bright Mountain Ranch
Dressing. Each participant was presented with a questionnaire where they were instructed to
answer all questions, and a sample of Bright Mountain Ranch with a carrot stick. A sample of the
sensory questionnaire can be found in Appendix C. Once the participants completed the
questionnaire, a member of the product development team collected them and compiled the data.

Paired Comparison Test

Participants were asked to compare a store bought ranch (sample 405) to Bright
Mountain Ranch (sample 101) and pick which one they preferred. As shown in Figure 4, seven
participants preferred Bright Mountain Ranch while twenty-three preferred the store bought
ranch. This means that only 77% of participants preferred Bright Mountain Ranch over the store
bought brand.

Figure 4: Preference of two different ranch dressings during a paired comparison test
Survey Questions

How often do you consume any type of dressing? (for salads, vegetables, etc.)
The participants’ answers to this survey question expressed the varying eating habits when it
comes to consuming any type of dressing. Seventy-seven percent responded by saying they
consume salad dressing one to three times per week, while 17% responded with never, and 6%
said more than three times per week.

Figure 5: How often participants consume any type of dressing.

Do you like
ranch

dressing?
The participants’ answers to this survey question expressed whether or not they like ranch
dressing. This was an important question to ask the participants because it had a large influence
on whether or not they preferred the samples presented. Ninety percent of participants reported
that they do like ranch dressing, while 10% reported that they do not like it.

Figure 6: Whether or not participants like ranch dressing.

When choosing a dressing do you look for healthier options? (Higher protein, lower fat)
The participants’ responses to this final question is extremely important. This question gives the
product developers insight into whether or not Bright Mountain Ranch will have an influence
over consumers in the market. Fifty-three percent of participants said that they do not consider
healthier options when picking a dressing, while 47% said they do consider healthier options.

Figure 7: Whether or not participants look for healthier options when choosing a dressing.

Results

The results from the sensory testing were surprising, yet exciting to the developers of Bright
Mountain Ranch Dressing. The fact that 77% of participants preferred this product over a store
bought one shows the potential that this product has in the market.

Shelf Life Estimation

 The USDA’s “Pathogen Modeling Program” was used in conjunction with “Tofu
Standards” by The Soy Food Association of America to determine the shelf life of Bright
Mountain Ranch Dressing. Determining water activity is a method used to establish a food
product’s shelf life. Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing is susceptible to spoilage and rancidity
depending on length of time exposed to warm temperatures due to its high water activity. The
product is made of perishable foods, most notably tofu and almond milk, requiring refrigeration
preferably below 32°F once opened. Tofu spoils easily in warm environments due to its high
protein and water content as well as a neutral pH (Chiraporn 2012). These characteristics require
the product to be refrigerated to prevent microbial growth further extending overall shelf life but
also to maintain its consistency, flavor and texture.
The primary pathogens associated with tofu are coliform bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella
spp., Yersinia spp., C. sakazakii, Pseudomonas spp., Listeria spp., B. cereus, Staphylococcus
spp., Enterococcus spp., and LAB. A low pH level in tofu is reported to be associated with the
growth of Gram-positive organisms, primarily Streptococcus sp. and Pediococcus sp.. Therefore,
good manufacturing practices during the production process as well as hygienic distribution and
storage conditions are critical for producing high quality tofu (Chiraporn 2012).

Regulatory Stipulations

Vegan

Legally, it is required for a company to explicitly state which allergens are contained in their
products, and these can typically be found on the food label in bold text. For a product to be
considered “vegan” it must contain absolutely zero ingredients formed from animals. A vegan
does not eat the flesh of any animal (including fish, sea creatures, and birds) eggs, dairy, honey,
or any other animal products. When reading a food label look out for “non-dairy” and “lactose
free” claims as these do not necessarily mean vegan. Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing proudly
displays “vegan” on their food labels as they adheres to these guidelines.

Saturated fat free

According to the FDA, a food product can be claimed as “saturated fat free” if the food contains
less than 0.5 gram of saturated fat as well as less than 0.5 gram of trans fatty acid (FDA, Code of
Regulations Title 21). Since Bright Mountain Ranch contains absolutely no saturated or trans fat,
this product can legally be claimed as saturated fat free.

Cholesterol free

When a food product contains cholesterol, that means that at least one ingredient in the product
is an animal product or byproduct. According to the FDA, a food product can be claimed as
“cholesterol free” when it contains no ingredients that are generally understood by the public as
an animal product, unless the ingredient in the ingredient statement is followed by an asterisk
that leads the consumer to see that it contains two milligrams or less of cholesterol (FDA, Code
of Regulations Title 21). Because Bright Mountain Ranch is free of animal products and
therefore contains no cholesterol, it can legally be claimed as cholesterol free.

Sugar Free

The FDA guidelines states that a food product must contain 0.5 grams of sugar or less per
serving in order to market said product as “sugar free”. When measuring the amount of sugar in a
product, naturally occurring forms of sugar must also be accounted for in addition to any added
additional sugar. Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing contains zero added sugar, and none of the
active ingredients contain any sugar as well which allows them to state the claim “sugar free” on
their food label.

Packaging Suggestions

The packaging for Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing will be include a 14oz. glass bottle.
This will enhance the appearance of the dressing and hopefully entice consumers to purchase the
product. Although packaging the dressing in a glass bottle will cost more money during
production, it will also allow for the price of the dressing to slightly increase allowing for profit.
When comparing Bright Mountain Ranch to other ranch dressings, the bottles were also glass
(Appendix D). Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing will have to be stored in the refrigerator
allowing for the dressing to become cold before serving. Bright Mountain Ranch will have the
label of the product in the center of the bottle, allowing it to be visible to all consumers when on
the shelves in stores. The packaging will look clean and have all claims printed clearly on the
front label of the bottle.

Product Cost

The selling price of Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing was established through the markup
method. Each bottle of the dressing will cost $2.64 to produce and a 100% markup based on a
standard markup method would price the product at $5.28. However, to compete with the
market, the products suggested markup with be $4.99. The marked-up price includes raw
ingredients as well as manufacturing, distribution and retail costs (See Appendix E).
The price was established by tallying the cost of each item based on its serving size
relative to the purchased price. Each batch yielded one, 14 ounce bottle servings of dressing, as
annotated in separate rows in Appendix E. The industry standard suggested markup price is
$5.28 and cost margins were determined as follows; profit (40%), distribution (20%), retail
(40%). This means approximately $1.06 will be earned as a profit per unit sold, .52¢ for
distribution and $1.06 for retailers. However, lowering the mark-up from 100% to 90% to adjust
the selling price to $4.99 was deemed necessary to remain competitive, using the following cost
margins; profit (39%), distribution (15%), retail (35%). This means the adjusted mark-up price
will earn approximately $1.02 of profit per unit sold, .39¢ for distribution and .92¢ for retailers.
This product is marketed as a low fat vegan option and is recommended to be priced at
$5.28, making the purchasing price very competitive with other vegan ranch products on the
market which are priced significantly higher. Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing provides value
most importantly through minimal quality ingredients allowing the customer to enjoy a healthy,
nutritious Vegan ranch substitute.

Nutrition Label

The nutrient analysis of Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing was done using the USDA’s
SuperTracker program. The nutrition label is based on the ingredient database on Food
Processor, which uses verified USDA ingredients to generate a nutrition label (Appendix F). One
bottle of Bright Mountain Ranch Dressing yields fifteen servings of two tablespoons each. One
serving has only 40 calories with 2.5 grams of fat, none of which are saturated or trans. It also
includes two grams of carbohydrates and three grams of protein, which is much higher than
competing generic brands. Since creating a high-protein product was the main goal of Bright
Mountain Ranch, a whole bottle of it contains 49 grams of protein. As for micronutrients, Bright
Mountain Ranch provides 6% of the daily recommendation for calcium and iron. Serving sizes
are often hard to follow for the average American, so the low-calorie and high nutrient features
of this product allows consumers to splurge when pouring over a salad and dipping carrots,
french fries, or pizza into this healthy plant-based version.
 References

Bernat N, Cháfer M, Chiralt A, et al Almond milk fermented with different potentially probiotic
bacteria improves iron uptake by intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells. In: International Journal of
Food Studies. https://www.iseki-food-ejournal.com/ojs/index.php/e-journal/article/view/232.
Accessed 12 Dec 2017

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. In: Buttermilk Ranch Dressing | Salad Dressing & Dip Litehouse.
https://www.litehousefoods.com/products/buttermilk-ranch-dressing. Accessed 12 Dec 2017

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. In: accessdata.fda.gov.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=169.150. Accessed
12 Dec 2017

Chan YH, Nia HS (2012) Influence of apple cider vinegar on blood lipids. Accessed 12 Dec
2017

Chiraporn Ananchaipattana (2012). Bacterial Contamination of Soybean Curd (Tofu) Sold in

Thailand, Food Sci. Technol. Res., 18(6). Accessed 11 Dec 2017

Food Safety Extension Program -- Clemson University. In: Food Safety Education.
http://www.foodsafetysite.com/. Accessed 12 Dec 2017

Home. In: Plant-Based Protein Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2017 - 2025.
https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/plantbased-protein-market.asp.
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(2014) Intake of Calories and Selected Nutrients for the United States Population. Accessed 12
Dec 2017
KOORANEE TUITEMWONG and DANIEL Y. C. FUNG (1991) Microbiological Study of
Tofu. Journal of Food Protection: March 1991, Vol. 54, No. 3

(2017) Market Research Indicates 8.1% Rise in Vegan Food Sales Whilst Meat and Dairy Sales
Drop | News. In: LIVEKINDLY. https://www.livekindly.co/plant-based-food-sales-rise/.
Accessed 12 Dec 2017

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2013 | Mintel.com. http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/food-and-drink/number-of-global-
vegetarian-food-and-drink-product-launches-doubles-between-2009-and-2013. Accessed 12 Dec
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smart/articles/saturated-fats. Accessed 12 Dec 2017

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dressings/original-ranch/original-ranch/. Accessed 12 Dec 2017

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Appendix A: Trial Chart

Trial #1 Trial #2 Trial #3 Trial #4 Final Recipe

½ block of tofu ½ block of tofu ½ block of tofu ½ block of tofu ½ block of tofu

⅓c. almond milk ⅓c. almond milk ⅓c. almond milk ⅓c. almond milk ⅓c. almond milk

Lemon juice Lemon juice Lemon juice Lemon juice Lemon juice
from half a from half a from half a from half a from half a
lemon lemon lemon lemon lemon

2 tsp. dill 2 tsp. dill 2 tsp. dill 2 tsp. dill 2 tsp. dill

2 tbsp. apple 2 tbsp. apple 2 tbsp. apple 2 tbsp. apple 2 tbsp. apple
cider vinegar cider vinegar cider vinegar cider vinegar cider vinegar

1 tsp. onion 1 tsp. onion 1 tsp. onion 1 tsp. onion 1 tsp. onion
powder powder powder powder powder

1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. paprika

1 ½ tsp. mustard 1 ½ tsp. mustard 1 ½ tsp. mustard 1 ½ tsp. mustard 1 ½ tsp. mustard
powder powder powder powder powder

3 garlic cloves 1 garlic clove 1 garlic clove 1 garlic clove 1 garlic clove

3 tbsp. oregano 3 tbsp. oregano 3 tbsp. oregano 3 tbsp. oregano 3 tbsp. oregano

1 tbsp. green 1 tbsp. green 1 tbsp. green 1 tbsp. green 1 tbsp. green
onion onion onion onion onion

1 tbsp. canola oil 1 tbsp. canola oil 1 tbsp. canola oil

1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. salt

Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Salt Comments:

Too much garlic, Right amount of Texture is was the perfect Texture and
does not taste garlic, flavor and similar to ranch, addition to the flavor are both
like ranch. consistency still still missing recipe to make satisfying and
 off. something for the flavor mimic palatable.
flavor. ranch.

Appendix B: Competitive Analysis Table

Hidden Valley Lifehouse Bright Mountain

Ranch Buttermilk Ranch Ranch

Product Forms Processed Processed Processed

Packaging Plastic squeeze bottle Plastic squeeze bottle Glass jar

Flavors or Varieties Original Buttermilk Original

Main Ingredients Vegetable oil, water, Canola oil, Tofu, almond milk
egg yolk buttermilk, egg yolk

Location/Shelf Condiment aisle, eye Refrigerator case, top Condiment aisle, eye
Position level shelf level

In-store Location Aisle End-cap Aisle

Price $3.99 $6.99 $5.28

Appendix C: Sensory Questionnaire

Sensory Evaluation for Dressing

Background Information:
How old are you:
[ ] 18-24 [ ] 25-30 [ ] 31-38 [ ] 39-50+
Gender
[ ] Male [ ] Female [ ] Other
How often do you consume any type of dressing? (for salads, vegetables, etc.)
[ ] Never [ ] One to three times per week [ ] More than three times per week
Do you like Ranch Dressing?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
When choosing a dressing do you look for healthier options? (Higher protein, lower fat?)
[ ] Yes [ ] No

Instructions:
You are presented with two samples of dressing. Take a look at Sample 101 and Sample 405.
Can you see any differences in the dressings?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Which sample looks more appealing?
[ ] Sample 101 [ ] Sample 405
Based on appearance which one would you choose to eat?
[ ] Sample 101 [ ] Sample 405
What sample had a better aroma?
[ ] Sample 101 [ ] Sample 405

1. Take a sip of the water to cleanse your palate then taste sample 101 with a carrot
2. After tasting sample 101, take another sip of water and then taste sample 405 with a carrot

Which sample did you prefer?

[ ] Sample 101 [ ] Sample 405
What sample had a better consistency/texture?
[ ] Sample 101 [ ] Sample 405
Would you purchase either of these samples?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
If so which sample? [ ] Sample 101 [ ] Sample 405
If you knew that sample 405 was higher in protein and lower in fat would you have chosen that specific dressing?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Appendix D: Super Market Safari (next page)
Appendix E: Product Cost
Appendix F: Nutrition Label for Bright Mountain Ranch