Kenzoil is truly unique and delicious! Splash it on hot pasta, toss it with
your favorite salad or
simply pour it on a plate
and dive in with some fresh bread. Whichever way you choose,
you'll love it and
your family and friends
will rave about it!
The Kenzoil Story
In the spring of 1995, while living in Ann Arbor, Ken Carlsen was inspired to create a salad dressing that was healthy and contained neither sugar nor vinegar. The reason for the absence of sugar and vinegar was due to a food combining diet he was practicing at the time. Having never made a dressing before, he decided to experiment one evening by combining different things in his blender. The result was “Ken’s Oil”, as a friend called it. As luck would have it, he came up with the recipe on the first try!
Shortly thereafter, Ken took his oil to a potluck party for people there to use as a dipping oil with bread. It was a hit! So much so that people immediately suggested that he should bottle it and sell it. “This is too good to keep to yourself” one person said. “Next time you make a batch, make a bottle for me and I’ll buy it from you” another exclaimed.
Ken pondered the idea of selling his oil to the public for a few years. But as with many people who’d like to start a business, there were too many reasons “why not”.
In 1997, just before the holidays, he was working at a restaurant in Ann Arbor and took some of his oil to work to mix with rice during his lunch break. A few co-workers were curious about the green stuff he was putting on his rice, so he offered some to them, and once again people started asking Ken if he could make some for them. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas of 1997, Ken sold 125 bottles just to friends and co-workers, solely from word-of-mouth advertising.
In 1998, Ken started selling Kenzoil to the public at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. Customers loved Kenzoil, and by 1999, Kenzoil was being sold at Merchant of Vino stores in the Detroit area (which were later purchased by Whole Foods Market).
Today, Kenzoil is sold in specialty stores in southeastern Michigan as well as Whole Foods Market throughout Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. See our store locations page for a complete list of stores.
We look forward to continuing to grow Kenzoil one very satisfied customer at a time by giving our customers a premium quality, wonderful tasting product. We look forward to sharing Kenzoil with you!
