Formulating Dressings, Marinades and Sauces With Clean Label and Tasty Ingredients

Dressings, sauces and marinades have long been part of the culinary world; however, classic formulations don't always resonate with today's forward-thinking consumers. The average U.S. unit price of sauces, dressings and condiments rose by 3 percent in 2016—largely a result of growing market share from premium brands featuring artisanal, organic or other high-value options. And in a nod to perceived freshness paying off, refrigerated offerings saw nearly 8 percent growth from 2016 to 2017. Takeaways include: *Viscosity, opacity, mouthfeel, suspension, meltaway and substrate interaction are critical to success. *Taste, aroma and color can impart fresh cues and support the perception a product is homemade. *In 2016, the number of refrigerated dressings containing avocado or avocado oil grew 30.4% in the U.S.