Hanley’s

This week, Tilman Fertitta meets with Richard and Kate Hanley of Hanley’s.

Hanley’s is an all-natural salad dressing that is made with locally-sourced ingredients. According to their website, the company “believes we can change the world by the way we eat—one bite at a time.” The Hanleys were inspired to create the salad dressing company after they discovered that their favorite dressing was not available in stores. Their dressing is now available in more than 700 retail stores. Flavors include avocado, ranch, créole ranch, strawberry vinaigrette and more.

Fertitta likes that they have a variety of flavors and that the couple is all-in on the business. This year, they expect to do a little over $220,000. He gives the dressing a try and calls regional flavor Sensation “sensational.”

He visits the factory next, where he discovers that they are not automated, which he calls “scary.” Most of the workers are students at the LSU Agriculture Center. The duo hopes to become the “go-to dressing company” for Landry’s. Fertitta challenges them to bring several flavors to the Golden Nugget and do a taste test with his employees and potential customers. The bleu cheese dressing falls a bit flat with the Landry’s team. The consistency is described as “watery,” while Fertitta compares the buttermilk ranch to mayonnaise. The Sensation flavor, however, is a hit with everyone.

Next, the customers put the Sensation dressing to the test against the house dressing. The house dressing wins seven to three. Fertitta then challenges the duo to test the Sensation dressing at Landry’s and work on improving the ranch dressing. While working to improve the dressing, the duo also discovers a new production facility is coming to LSU, which will allow them to automate their process.

Fertitta and the Landry’s team then try the new dressing. They agree that it has a lot of “bite,” adding that it’s very acidic and has too much garlic. Fertitta says they missed the mark and encourage them to hire a chef to consult them on making the dressing. He hopes to focus on the Sensation dressing if the results are positive.

On deal day, Fertitta reveals the results of the Sensation taste test: 6.8 in taste and 6.6 in reorder. The overall score was 6.9 out of 10, which is not enough to make a deal. He encourages them to focus on making specialty dressings and consulting with his chefs.

Social Media Reacts to Hanley’s’ Appearance on “Billion Dollar Buyer”

According to CNBC, the reality television show “introduces promising companies across the country to one of America’s most successful businessmen: billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta, Chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry’s, Inc.” Featured entrepreneurs present their small business to Fertitta in the hopes that he will place a large purchase order. But before they make their pitch, they must prove to the hospitality mogul that their product is worth it through challenges and customer feedback.

What are your thoughts on Hanley’s? Do you think Fertitta should have made an offer? Sound off in the comments section below!