Meet Tana Dukes | Owner of the Genuine Ranch Dressing Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tana Dukes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I began making ranch dressing 8 years ago, it was solely to meet my own need. I loved home style, restaurant quality ranch dressings and I could not find them anywhere. Stores are often stocked with shelf stable varieties that lack flavor and freshness. I used to go to restaurants and order ranch for take out so that I could have delicious ranch dressing for my salads at home. After all, the dressing makes the salad! So, in 2016, while staying home with my infant daughter I started experimenting with ranch dressing recipes. I have literally tried every base and seasoning. It became a science experiment for me. When I returned to work, I started letting other people taste the recipes and soon after dwindled it down to my own signature recipe. I never thought of selling it but people kept asking and that is how the Genuine Ranch Dressing Co. was born. My family and I still use and love the exact same recipe I started making 8 years ago. It’s a staple for us now; and for many of our customers in Charleston! It’s an honor to have so many more ranch enthusiasts that enjoy it as much as I do!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a social worker with over a decade of experience working in Child Welfare. Much of that experience has been spent working in Child Welfare. I have always had a heart for children, teenagers and honestly even adults who never felt heard, seen or loved. For me, I have found that love through my faith in Jesus. I have found through seeing and experiencing pain, that my purpose and worth has come through God therefore I weave that through how I live my life. I have a podcast called “Created: The Podcast” that talks with entrepreneurs, and other people Of faith about their Journey in learning about purpose and the work we pursue to do that. So my work is an outpouring of that faith although I have seen emotionally taxing things, and have had to gain perspective as I have aged and transitioned through different seasons. I have also worked as a licensed cosmetologist, and I’m married with 2 children. Along with the Genuine Ranch Dressing Company, what I have found is that people just want to be heard and loved genuinely. So all these things may seem disconnected, but they are connected in mission, For me, to love people well. Even if it’s from enjoying ranch dressing! On the back of each bottle of ranch dressing is Romans 12:10 NLT that reads “ ”Love each other with genuine affection”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite place in the world is the beach, and I live less than 10 miles away on James Island so we would ofcourse visit Folly Beach! I find so much solace there. I love to walk and sit during the colder months and hang out with the kids and get in when it’s warmer. My favorite restaurant in the Charleston area is probably “Page’s Okra Grill”, so we would visit there for brunch and cocktails. (I love the Seafood Mac and Cheese!) On my home turf of James Island, I love Gillie’s Seafood so there for dinner. If we have the kids with us (because my closest friends and I have kids), we would probably visit the Children’s Museum downtown. Lastly, although you can find me selling Genuine Ranch Dressing at many farmers markets, I truly am a farmers market girl! So we would likely visit one of my favorites in town! I am a vendor at Sea Islands on Johns Island most Saturday’s but there are so many and it’s a way to see the true heart of the city. Farmers market vendors display the gold of small business; ingenuity, creativity and love! I always leave inspired.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband is someone who is always in the background. Filling in pieces for me, loving me In the “doing”. I’m not sure there is anything he wouldn’t do to make me happy. He is a believer in my dreams and the dreams of others. He is rarely seen but often the stability behind me making me have the confidence to go after what I want. I named the Genuine Ranch Dressing Co. after my love for being authentic and desire to love people well. My husband is purely genuine in his desire to support me and my love of people and ranch dressing; for that I am thankful.

Instagram: @genuineranch

Facebook: The Genuine Ranch Dressing Co.

Image Credits
Kristy Tasca Photography and Tana Dukes