Ventura Foods is one slick operator. The company makes and distributes branded and private-label vegetable oil-based products, including bulk salad oils, shortenings, margarine, butter and butter blends, pan coatings, mayonnaises, dressings, and more. It also produces soup and flavor bases and concession items, such as popcorn popping oil. Products are sold to foodservice operators such as Sysco and, less so, other food product manufacturers and retail groceries in the US and abroad. Ventura's core brands are Marie's Dressing, Dean's Dip, Gold 'n Soft margarine, and LouAna oils. The company is a 50-50 joint venture, created in 1996 between US agricultural co-op CHS and Japanese trading conglomerate Mitsui & Co.