Reed's Dressing | A Legacy in a Bottle

Reed's Dressing | A Legacy in a Bottle

Reed's Dressing - A Legacy in a Bottle 

In 1974, Fred Reed created a condiment for his steak house as a marinade and as the “house” salad dressing.

After his wife, Margie, was diagnosed with breast cancer, he sold his restaurant and decided to make the dressing full-time. Fred traveled to state fairs, and craft shows to demo his dressing and help get the word out. Soon, Reed’s Dressing (RD) was stocked in over 800 grocery stores in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Colorado. In November 2020, Fred suddenly passed away from Covid-19, and today, his legacy is carried on by his daughter, Leslie Cockerell, and her husband, John.

“We make the best Italian salad dressing and marinade you have ever tasted,” -boasted Leslie, owner of RD. “We had a home renovation business but recently decided to sell our houses and focuson the dressing business. We plan on making this venture a full-time job.”

RD is a small, hands-on business that puts love and care into every bottle.


“My father sat in a chair filling every bottle, screwing on every cap, and
putting on labels by hand,” explained Leslie. “We have kept the production
in a warehouse in Borger, TX, and John and I still fill each bottle by hand,
attach a label, screw on the cap, and  box them in six-packs, twelve-packs,
and gallons, and ship nationwide.”

The Cockerells decided not to continue selling to grocery stores for now
but are focused on their online business. “Hopefully, sometime soon, we
will be able to sell in grocery stores again,” stated Leslie. “We still deliver
gallon jugs to restaurants in the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma City.
However, our loyal customers who shopped at Crest, Homeland, or Buy for Less can now contact us directly, and we will deliver our amazing products to your doorstep.”

In the coming months, John and Leslie plan to attend craft shows in Oklahoma
and surrounding states doing every thing possible to get the word out about
RD. “Our dressing is unique in so many ways, but one thing our customers like
is once you open it, you don’t have to refrigerate it, plus it’s low-fat, low-
carb, and has multiple uses.”

John and Leslie never thought they would be in the salad dressing business, but Fred’s legacy is special to them, and they feel obligated to keep his legacy alive, one bottle at a time.

John graduated from UT at Austin and is retired from the oil and gas industry. Leslie graduated from UCO and is an interior designer. They have lived on Partridge Road in Quail Creek for 17 years and belong to the QCHOA.
Their son, John Jr, also lives in Quail Creek with his wife, Rachael, and their
son, Jason, lives in Belle Isle with his wife, DeeDee. They have identical twin
daughters who live in Tulsa: Abbey Johnson and her husband, Blake, with their two daughters, Emma and Anabelle, and Allison Bilby and her husband, Chris, who are expecting a new baby girl, Avery, this month.

In their free time, John and Leslie enjoy exploring new places, hiking, gardening, flea markets, pickleball, and spending time with family and friends.

To find out more about Reed’s
Dressing, LLC, or to make a purchase,
visit www.reedsdressing.com or text
Leslie at 405-408-8887

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