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2026 Who Brands. All information is provided for educational purposes. Brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

  1. Home
  2. Brands
  3. Food & Beverage
  4. Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley logo
Food & Beverage

Who Owns Hidden Valley?

Hidden Valley is owned by The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX), which acquired the brand in 1972. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within Clorox's Household segment. Hidden Valley is America's number one ranch dressing brand by unit sales, generating revenue that flows through Clorox's consolidated financials.

Parent Company

The Clorox Company

Acquired

1972

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Oakland, California, USA

Hidden Valley Timeline

1913
The Clorox Company

Parent company established in Oakland, California, USA

Company Founded
1954

Hidden Valley

Founded by Steve Henson

Founded
1972
Acquired by The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company acquired Hidden Valley

Acquired
budgetmass marketUnited StatesOfficial Website

Who Owns Hidden Valley?

  • Parent Company: The Clorox Company
  • Ownership Type: Wholly owned
  • Acquisition Year: 1972
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: NYSE: CLX
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
Hidden ValleyThe Clorox CompanyWholly owned

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
AmazonHidden Valley on Amazon

History of Hidden Valley

  • Founded: 1954
  • Founders: Steve Henson
  • Acquired by The Clorox Company: 1972

Steve Henson, a plumber working in Alaska, created the original ranch dressing recipe in 1954. He and his wife Gayle bought a 120-acre ranch near Santa Barbara, California, called Hidden Valley Guest Ranch. Guests loved the buttermilk dressing Henson served at every meal. Demand grew. Visitors asked for the recipe, then for bottles to take home.

Henson started selling the dressing as a dry seasoning packet, which customers mixed with buttermilk and mayonnaise at home. He mailed packets to customers across the country. The product caught on through word of mouth. By the late 1960s, Henson had trademarked the Hidden Valley Ranch name and was distributing packets nationally through mail order and select grocery stores.

In 1972, The Clorox Company acquired Hidden Valley for approximately $19 million. Clorox saw an opportunity to scale a regional favorite into a national brand. The acquisition gave Hidden Valley access to Clorox's manufacturing infrastructure, distribution network, and marketing budget. Clorox reformulated the product for bottled ready-to-pour dressing, eliminating the need for customers to mix it themselves. This change drove mass-market adoption.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Hidden Valley expanded from a single ranch dressing into a full product line. The brand introduced Light Ranch, Fat-Free Ranch, and multiple flavor variants. Hidden Valley Seasoning packets became a standalone product for dips, marinades, and cooking. The brand also launched squeeze bottles for convenience and larger foodservice sizes for restaurants.

Ranch overtook Italian as America's most popular dressing flavor in 1992, a position it has never relinquished. Hidden Valley was the primary beneficiary. According to IRI unit sales data cited by Clorox, Hidden Valley remains America's number one ranch dressing brand as of 2025.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Hidden Valley pushed beyond the salad bowl. The brand marketed ranch as a dipping sauce for pizza, chicken wings, and vegetables. Social media amplified this trend. "Ranch on everything" became a cultural meme. Hidden Valley leaned into it with campaigns featuring ranch on popcorn, tacos, and even ice cream as a stunt.

Product innovation accelerated. Clorox launched Hidden Valley Avocado Oil Ranch, YumYum Ranch, and Parmesan Ranch Seasoning in fiscal year 2026. In May 2026, the brand introduced Hidden Valley Ranch Dippers, a line of protein-forward ready-to-eat snacks made with Carl Buddig and Company, rolling out at Walmart, Kroger, Publix, and Albertsons. The brand also launched Plant Powered Hidden Valley Ranch Topping and Dressing for the vegan market.

Clorox reported in its Q3 FY2026 earnings that Hidden Valley Ranch innovations were named the Best New Products in 2026 by Newsweek. Clorox and Hidden Valley were also recognized among the Most Trusted Brands of 2026 by USA TODAY.

About The Clorox Company

What does The Clorox Company own?
The Clorox Company owns a portfolio of consumer brands including Clorox bleach and cleaning products, Purell hand sanitizer, Glad trash bags, Pine-Sol cleaner, Burt's Bees personal care, Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, Kingsford charcoal, Brita water filtration, Fresh Step cat litter, and Liquid-Plumr drain cleaner. The company also markets professional products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands.

Is The Clorox Company publicly traded?
Yes, The Clorox Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CLX. The company has been publicly traded since 1928 and is a component of the S&P 500. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group and BlackRock.

Who founded The Clorox Company?
The Clorox Company was founded in 1913 in Oakland, California by five entrepreneurs: Archibald Taft, Edward Hughes, Charles Husband, William Hussey, and Rufus Myers. They established the Electro-Alkaline Company to produce bleach using electrolysis of brine from San Francisco Bay.

Where is The Clorox Company headquartered?
The Clorox Company is headquartered in Oakland, California, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in Oakland since its founding in 1913, making it one of the oldest companies still based in the city.

How many brands does The Clorox Company own?
The Clorox Company owns approximately 15 primary brands across cleaning, household, lifestyle, and personal care categories. The company's portfolio expanded in April 2026 with the acquisition of GOJO Industries, adding the Purell brand.

Who owns The Clorox Company?
The Clorox Company is an independent publicly traded corporation with no controlling shareholder or parent organization. Shares are widely held by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Major institutional holders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street.

What is The Clorox Company's annual revenue?
For fiscal year 2026, which ended June 30, 2026, The Clorox Company reported net sales of $6.72 billion, a 5% decrease from FY2025 net sales of $7.1 billion. The decline was primarily driven by ERP transition-related inventory drawdowns. The company projects FY2027 net sales growth of 13% to 14%.

Has The Clorox Company made major acquisitions recently?
In January 2026, Clorox announced the acquisition of GOJO Industries, maker of Purell hand sanitizer, for $2.25 billion in cash. The deal closed on April 1, 2026. GOJO has approximately $800 million in annual sales and expands Clorox's health and hygiene portfolio to more than half of total net sales.

  • Founded: 1913
  • Headquarters: Oakland, California, USA
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: NYSE: CLX
  • Revenue: approximately $6.72 billion (FY2026)
  • Employees: Approximately 7,600

Visit The Clorox Company website

View full company profile for The Clorox Company

Where Is Hidden Valley Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Oakland, California, USA
  • Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Hidden Valley Categories & Tags

Ranch DressingSalad DressingCondimentsCloroxAmerican BrandFood Products

Hidden Valley Sustainability & Ethics

Hidden Valley does not hold independent sustainability certifications. The brand participates in Clorox's corporate sustainability framework, which includes goals for packaging recyclability, emissions reduction, and responsible sourcing. Clorox was named among Barron's Most Sustainable Companies in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year and was recognized among America's Most Iconic Companies by Time Magazine.

Clorox has committed to making 100% of packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Hidden Valley bottles use recycled plastic content, and the brand has reduced packaging weight through lightweight bottle designs. However, specific progress metrics for Hidden Valley are not reported separately from Clorox's aggregate corporate targets.

Hidden Valley products are not certified organic, Fair Trade, or B Corp. The brand does not appear on the Leaping Bunny cruelty-free list or PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies database, as these certifications apply primarily to personal care and cosmetics products rather than food items. Consumers seeking independently verified sustainability data for Hidden Valley should consult Open Food Facts for ingredient information and Clorox's corporate sustainability reports for environmental performance data.

Clorox's sustainability goals include achieving 100% renewable electricity for operations and reducing virgin plastic packaging. These commitments apply to all brands in the portfolio, including Hidden Valley, but progress is measured at the corporate level.

Awards & Recognition

Hidden Valley and its parent company have received notable third-party recognition in 2026:

  • Newsweek Best New Products 2026: Hidden Valley Ranch innovations (including Avocado Oil Ranch, YumYum Ranch, and Parmesan Ranch Seasoning) were named Best New Products by Newsweek, as announced in Clorox's Q3 FY2026 earnings release.
  • USA TODAY Most Trusted Brands 2026: Clorox and Hidden Valley Ranch were both recognized among the Most Trusted Brands of 2026 by USA TODAY.
  • Barron's Most Sustainable Companies: Clorox was named to this list for the fourth consecutive year, covering sustainability performance across its portfolio including Hidden Valley.
  • Time Magazine America's Most Iconic Companies: Clorox received this recognition, which spans its full brand portfolio.

These are independent third-party recognitions, not self-reported accolades from brand marketing materials.

Hidden Valley Recalls & Controversies

Hidden Valley has not been subject to major product safety recalls in recent years that resulted in FDA enforcement actions or widespread consumer alerts. The brand operates under Clorox's food safety protocols, including HACCP systems and FDA compliance standards at its manufacturing facilities.

Like most packaged food brands, Hidden Valley has faced occasional consumer scrutiny over nutritional content. Ranch dressing is high in fat and sodium, and some health advocates have criticized the marketing of ranch-flavored products to children. Hidden Valley has responded by introducing Light Ranch, Fat-Free Ranch, and Plant Powered variants to offer lower-calorie and dairy-free alternatives.

In 2024, Clorox experienced a significant cybersecurity incident that affected its IT infrastructure and temporarily disrupted operations across multiple brands, including Hidden Valley. The company disclosed the breach in SEC filings and restored operations. The incident did not involve a product safety issue but caused temporary supply chain disruptions.

Clorox's fiscal year 2026 results were impacted by an ERP system transition that caused retailers to draw down inventory, reducing shipments by approximately 7.5 percentage points. This was a corporate operational issue, not a brand-specific problem, but it affected Hidden Valley's shipment volumes during the year.

No open regulatory actions or unresolved controversies specific to Hidden Valley are documented as of August 2026.

Brands Owned by The Clorox Company

BritaHousehold Consumer Goods

Brita

Owned by The Clorox Company

German water filtration brand providing water pitchers, filters, and water filtration systems for residential and commercial use to improve water taste and quality.

water-filtrationwater-pitcherswater-filters
Burt's BeesBeauty Personal Care

Burt's Bees

Owned by The Clorox Company

American personal care and cosmetics brand specializing in natural products, owned by The Clorox Company.

natural-beautyskincarelip-balm
Clorox BleachHousehold Consumer Goods

Clorox Bleach

Owned by The Clorox Company

American brand of household bleach and cleaning products, the leading bleach brand for disinfecting and whitening applications.

bleachcleaningdisinfecting
Formula 409Household Consumer Goods

Formula 409

Owned by The Clorox Company

Formula 409 is an American multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser brand owned by The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX). Founded in 1957, the brand offers all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, and disinfectants for household and commercial use.

multi-purpose-cleanerdegreaserhousehold-cleaning
GladHousehold Consumer Goods

Glad

Owned by The Clorox Company

American food storage and waste management brand providing plastic wrap, food storage bags, containers, and trash bags for household and commercial use.

food-storageplastic-wraptrash-bags
KingsfordHousehold Consumer Goods

Kingsford

Owned by The Clorox Company

American charcoal and grilling fuel brand owned by The Clorox Company, known for charcoal briquettes and grilling products since 1920.

charcoalgrillingbarbecue
View all brands owned by The Clorox Company

Hidden Valley Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • +Access to Clorox's national grocery distribution network and retail relationships
  • +R&D resources for new product development across dressing, seasoning, and snack formats
  • +Marketing budget scaled to a $6.7 billion parent company
  • +Number one market share in ranch dressing, providing pricing power
  • +Heritage brand recognition as the original ranch dressing

Considerations

  • -No independent public listing or separate financial disclosure for the brand
  • -Revenue is aggregated within Clorox's Household segment, limiting transparency
  • -Dependence on Clorox corporate strategy and management decisions
  • -Exposure to Clorox-wide operational risks, as shown by the 2024 cyberattack and ERP transition
  • -Competition from Kraft Heinz and private label brands in a mature category

Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Valley

Sources & Further Reading

  • Clorox Q4 FY2026 Earnings Release
  • Clorox Q3 FY2026 Earnings Release (PR Newswire)
  • Clorox CAGNY 2026 Presentation
  • Hidden Valley Ranch Dippers Launch Press Release
  • Hidden Valley Official Website
  • Clorox Investor Relations
  • Clorox Corporate Sustainability
  • Open Food Facts (Hidden Valley)
  • Yahoo Finance: Clorox Q4 Earnings Analysis

Competitors to Hidden Valley

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

BrandParent CompanyCountryFoundedMarket PositionPrimary MarketGender Target
Best FoodsBest Foods
Unilever
USA (Unilever North America HQ)
1919
Mass marketUnited statesAll-ages
Hellmann'sHellmann's
Unilever
USA
1913
Mass marketNorth americaAll Genders
GladGladSister Brand
Clorox
USA
1963
Mass marketGlobalAll-ages
Pine-SolPine-SolSister Brand
Clorox
USA
1929
Mass marketUnited statesAll Genders

Learn More About Competitors

Best FoodsFood Beverage

Best Foods

Owned by Unilever plc

American mayonnaise and condiment brand owned by Unilever, known as Hellmann's east of the Rocky Mountains.

mayonnaisecondimentsfood
Hellmann'sFood Beverage

Hellmann's

Owned by Unilever plc

American mayonnaise and condiment brand founded in 1913 by Richard Hellmann in New York City. Owned by Unilever (LSE: ULVR) and set to transfer to McCormick & Company (NYSE: MKC) in a deal expected to close mid-2027. Sold as Best Foods west of the Rocky Mountains.

mayonnaisecondimentsfood
GladHousehold Consumer Goods

Glad

Owned by The Clorox Company

American food storage and waste management brand providing plastic wrap, food storage bags, containers, and trash bags for household and commercial use.

food-storageplastic-wraptrash-bags
Pine-SolHousehold Consumer Goods

Pine-Sol

Owned by The Clorox Company

American household cleaning brand known for its pine-scented multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant, owned by The Clorox Company.

cleaning-productsdisinfectantmulti-surface-cleaner

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Hidden Valley competes with 4 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.

Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.

Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.

Independent Alternatives to Hidden Valley

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Clorox Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

ButterfingerFood Beverage

Butterfinger

Owned by Ferrero

American candy bar brand known for its peanut butter and chocolate flavor, owned by Ferrero Group.

candy-barchocolatepeanut-butter
Privately Owned

Butterfinger is privately owned, unlike Hidden Valley which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Kellogg's Corn FlakesFood Beverage

Kellogg's Corn Flakes

Owned by Ferrero

Iconic ready-to-eat breakfast cereal invented in 1894, now owned by Ferrero through WK Kellogg Co.

breakfast-cerealready-to-eat-cerealcorn
Privately Owned

Kellogg's Corn Flakes is privately owned, unlike Hidden Valley which is under a publicly traded parent company.

SnickersFood Beverage

Snickers

Owned by Mars, Incorporated

American chocolate bar with nougat, caramel, peanuts, and milk chocolate, owned by Mars, Incorporated. The world's best-selling chocolate bar.

chocolatecandy-barconfectionery
Privately Owned

Snickers is privately owned, unlike Hidden Valley which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Baby RuthFood Beverage

Baby Ruth

Owned by Ferrero

American chocolate candy bar with peanuts, caramel, and chocolate, founded in 1921 by Curtiss Candy Company and owned by Ferrero Group since January 2018.

chocolateconfectionerycandy
Privately Owned

Baby Ruth is privately owned, unlike Hidden Valley which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Cheez-ItFood Beverage

Cheez-It

Owned by Mars, Incorporated

American brand of cheese cracker snacks owned by Mars, Incorporated through its Kellanova subsidiary. Created in 1921 in Dayton, Ohio.

snackscrackerscheese
Privately Owned

Cheez-It is privately owned, unlike Hidden Valley which is under a publicly traded parent company.

CrunchFood Beverage

Crunch

Owned by Ferrero

Milk chocolate and crisped rice bar introduced by Nestle in 1938, now produced in the United States by Ferrara Candy Company (Ferrero) and globally by Nestle.

chocolateconfectionerycandy
Privately Owned

Crunch is privately owned, unlike Hidden Valley which is under a publicly traded parent company.

The Clorox Company Stock Information

Jobs at The Clorox Company

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Last reviewed: August 1, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team