Cool and Zesty
Apr 10, 2012
by Lindsey Miller
In 1957 after 23 years of trial and error, Dorothy Holterman, creator of Cool and Zesty dressings, perfected her mother’s homemade salad dressing.
Although it took another 43 years for the salad dressing to make its debut, Holterman had been preparing the dressing for family, friends and even a restaurant in her hometown of Freeburg, Mo. It wasn’t until January 2000 that the first bottle hit the grocery store shelves.
Holterman and her grandson Steve Picker made the decision to share her dressing with the community by transforming the 15 oz. recipe to one that would produce 70 gallons. The two also created a sugar-free version in 2003.
Although the process was challenging, Picker said, the decision to manufacture the dressing had always been a dream of Holterman’s, who passed away in June 2008 at the age of 93.
Picker not only lost his grandmother but he lost the spokesperson for the dressing along with his motivation. Holterman became a local celebrity after appearing on local television programs and radio stations to promote her salad dressings. “Everyone just loved her,” Picker said. “She was very cool and zesty.”
Although Cool and Zesty lost its creator, Picker didn’t want his grandmother’s legacy to be forgotten. Holterman’s picture remains on every bottle of Cool and Zesty and her story remains on the company’s website.
Listen to his story now:
