success, but in 1948, he decided the place was missing a certain...kick. He asked his mother for the spicy salad dressing recipe she had brought from her native Sicily, and thus Wish-Bone Italian dressing was born.

Customers went wild for the dressing and demanded bottles to take home. Phil had to start mixing the dressing in a 50-gallon drum to keep up with customers! He began to package the dressing, with his mother happily applying labels declaring “The Kansas City Wish-Bone® Famous Italian-Style Dressing.”

The salad dressing propelled Wish-Bone® to fame as people across the country clamored for more of its tangy and delicious flavor. As Phil and his crew introduced new varieties, support for their products grew, and people started using them for marinades, dips and more! Although we now have more than 40 varieties, we still use Phil’s mother’s classic Italian recipe and make our “famous” dressings in Kansas City, Missouri. Our bold flavors make for great meals and great times with your family.