Kitano Ace Staff Selects: 6th Annual Dressing Grand Prix Announced! 'Collection of Ideas for Deliciously Eating Vegetables' Gathered from Staff Nationwide Also Released

Ace Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Kansai Headquarters: Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Tetsuya Aburayama), which operates the specialty food store 'Kitano Ace,' will launch the 'Kitano Ace Staff Selects: 6th Annual Dressing Grand Prix' starting Tuesday, April 21st. Concurrently, based on a survey collected from staff nationwide, 'Kitano Ace Style: Collection of Ideas for Deliciously Eating Vegetables' will also be released. From over 400 responses, a list of practices that staff implement to eat more vegetables deliciously is introduced on the special Dressing Grand Prix page.

Celebrating its 6th year, the 'Dressing Grand Prix' is a ranking project where Kitano Ace staff nationwide vote for dressings they want to recommend to customers this year, and the selected dressings are introduced by category. Kitano Ace sells over 200 types of dressings (*1), and the award-winning products from the Dressing Grand Prix will be featured in stores nationwide from Tuesday, April 21st to Wednesday, May 20th. From a total of 725 votes, the 2026 'Kitano Ace Staff Selects: 6th Annual Dressing Grand Prix' will introduce winners in the [Rich & Flavorful Category], [Light & Flavorful Category], and [Buyer Discovery Category] (*2), chosen from our buyers' top recommendations.

Overview of 'Kitano Ace Staff Selects: 6th Annual Dressing Grand Prix' [Event Period] Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – Wednesday, May 20, 2026 [Sales Locations] Kitano Ace stores nationwide, KITANO ACE, and Kitano Ace WEB SHOP *Images are for illustration purposes only. Product prices, contents, and designs may change. *Availability may vary between the WEB SHOP and physical stores.

Selected from creamy dressings: 'Rich & Flavorful Category'

210ml・486 yen (tax included) [1st Place] Smoked Nut Dressing (Yasumoto Sangyo) A dressing from 'Yasumoto Shoyu,' a long-established soy sauce maker originating in Shimane Prefecture, offering a unique smoked aroma thanks to its proprietary manufacturing method. The generous amount of fragrant nuts provides a pleasant texture, adding satisfaction to salads. Mix it into potato salad, and you'll instantly have smoked potato salad. In 2025, it was certified by Guinness World Records™ as 'the most salad dressing sold online in one hour.' [Staff Recommended Comments] ・A dish that allows smoked food lovers to fully enjoy its rich flavor, nutty sweetness, and texture! ・A dressing that turns a salad into a snack just by pouring it on.

300ml・734 yen (tax included) [2nd Place] Caesar Dressing for Adults (Kitano Selection) A Caesar dressing with a balanced blend of Parmesan and Gouda cheeses. The flavor is enhanced with anchovy, garlic, and black pepper. It can be used widely not only for Caesar salads but also for warm vegetables, chicken, and pork salads. [Staff Recommended Comments] ・Overwhelming cheese sensation! The richness and umami of cheese are powerfully complemented by anchovy, garlic, and black pepper ◎ ・Rich yet not cloying! A well-balanced dressing suitable for daily use or special occasion salads.

220ml・646 yen (tax included) [3rd Place] Kyoto Gion Shichimi French Dressing (Ojika Sauce) A special French dressing finished with a unique manufacturing method, blending Kyoto's famous flavorful Gion Shichimi and Ogon Ichimi. The spiciness felt within the creaminess is a good accent. It can be used widely for fried shrimp, carpaccio, potato salad, cold pasta, and more. [Staff Recommended Comments] ・The spiciness of Shichimi enhances the sweetness of vegetables. ・The combination of Shichimi and French dressing is exquisite. It pairs perfectly with fried foods.

Selected from refreshing dressings: 'Light & Flavorful Category'

180ml・486 yen (tax included) [1st Place] Hyuganatsu Dressing (Mitsuiishi) A Hyuganatsu dressing full of the scent of the sun. By finely cutting and adding the white pith of the Hyuganatsu, you can enjoy a subtle sweetness and crisp texture. Made entirely from Hyuganatsu, richly grown with the blessings of the sun, it's a refreshing dressing with elegant acidity and umami. [Staff Recommended Comments] ・Refreshing yet deep flavor from the acidity of Hyuganatsu. ・With fruit pulp, the refreshing citrus flavor is perfect for meat dishes and marinades ◎

220ml・646 yen (tax included) [2nd Place] Aromatic Sesame Oil and Salted Garlic Dressing (Ojika Sauce) An appetizing dressing with the refreshing flavor of garlic in aromatic sesame oil. Utilizing the garlic flavor, it's perfect for seasoning Cholegi salad. Made by Ojika Sauce in Kyoto, its moderate saltiness also makes it delicious as a seasoning for fried rice and salted yakisoba. [Staff Recommended Comments] ・Sesame oil makes vegetables easy to eat and goes well with any vegetable. ・Also delicious as a sauce for egg over rice!

200ml・506 yen (tax included) [3rd Place] Truffle Dressing & Sauce (Sennenya) A luxurious dressing & sauce based on a slightly sweet and savory sauce that utilizes the flavor of soy sauce and the sweetness and umami of onions, finished with fragrant truffle. In addition to salads, it transforms white fish, steak, pasta sauce, omelets, etc., into a luxurious dish with a gentle truffle aroma. [Staff Recommended Comments] ・The aroma of truffle spreads the moment you open it. Easy to eat with a soy sauce base. ・Enjoy a luxurious feeling at an affordable price! Recommended as a sauce for hamburg steak.

Decided by headquarters vote from buyer-recommended nominations: 'Buyer Discovery Category'

200ml・540 yen (tax included) [1st Place] Aojiso Non-Oil Dressing (Kitano Selection) A refreshing Aojiso non-oil dressing with a subtle plum aroma, made with domestic perilla leaves and pickled plum. There was a strong internal desire to revive the Kitano Selection Aojiso Dressing sold around 2016! So, the recipe from that time was reproduced to complete this product. It can be used not only for salads but also for cold tofu, blanched greens, and shabu-shabu sauce. It also makes a refreshing seasoning when poured over fried foods ◎

180ml・594 yen (tax included) [2nd Place] Setouchi Lemon Farm Dressing (Yamato Foods) A mellow lemon-flavored dressing created by Yamato Foods, which also produces 'Lemosco.' Based on homemade soy sauce, it's a rich and flavorful dressing with grated domestic onions and two types of bittersweet Setouchi lemon peel. It pairs well not only with cold shabu-shabu salads and steamed vegetables but also with meat and fish. The manufacturer's recommendation is lemon-flavored seasoned rice.

200ml・646 yen (tax included) [3rd Place] Kappo Ohama's Dashi Enjoyment Dressing (Ojika Sauce) A 'dashi dressing' that seems like it should have existed but didn't. 'Kappo Ohama,' founded in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture in 1973, is a restaurant committed to seasonal ingredients and dashi. You can enjoy the aroma of sansho pepper and a refreshing spiciness with seafood dashi made from soda bonito flakes, urume flakes, and sardine flakes. Please use it for a wide range of dishes such as salads, dressed dishes, steamed dishes, and grilled fish.

Kitano Ace Staff Selects: Dressing Grand Prix 'Hall of Fame' Based on past Dressing Grand Prix achievements, the following three products will be featured in the Hall of Fame.

Kitano Selection Carrot Dressing for Adults・280ml・745 yen (tax included) Kitano Selection Japonaise Caesar Dressing with Soy Sauce and Bonito Dashi・330ml・745 yen (tax included) Kitano Selection Luxurious Sesame Dressing for Adults・300ml・702 yen (tax included)

Real voices from staff! 'Kitano Ace Style: Collection of Ideas for Deliciously Eating Vegetables'

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 'Health Japan 21 (*3)' recommends a daily intake of 350g or more of vegetables. Taking the opportunity of this Dressing Grand Prix, a survey was conducted among staff nationwide on 'what they keep in mind to eat more vegetables deliciously,' with the wish for customers to eat more vegetables deliciously. From over 400 collected responses, 'Kitano Ace Style: Collection of Ideas for Deliciously Eating Vegetables' was created. On the special Dressing Grand Prix page, a checklist of ideas actually practiced by Kitano Ace staff is available. Please enjoy it along with the Dressing Grand Prix.

View Details

Survey Results Summary (01) Enjoy changing flavors: Stock two or more types of dressing, use lemon etc. for a refreshing flavor, sweet salad with vegetables × honey (02) Don't stick to raw vegetables, cook and eat them: Utilize a steamer, make miso soup with plenty of vegetables, put disliked vegetables in curry (03) Prepare and freeze for immediate use: Cut and store in single servings, always keep frozen vegetables, buy vegetables that don't require preparation (04) Devise cutting methods to make them easier to eat: Finely chop disliked vegetables, enjoy different textures by cutting methods, diced vegetables × cheese (05) Arrange with ingredients other than vegetables: High satisfaction with nuts and cheese, add meat and eggs for protein, always keep bonito flakes and nori flakes (06) Be conscious of freshness, seasonality, and ingredients: Buy vegetables directly from producers or at roadside stations, buy only the amount you can eat, seasonal vegetables are delicious as they are (07) Others: Make pickles or nukazuke, enjoy home gardening, make fresh spring rolls or tortillas, separate cooking methods for adults and children

Dressing Grand Prix Display Image

5th Dressing Grand Prix

4th Dressing Grand Prix

3rd Dressing Grand Prix

(*1) Number of items handled at large stores. The number of items handled varies by store. (*2) The Buyer Discovery Category is decided by a vote of headquarters staff after buyers select the products. (*3) Health promotion with 350g of vegetables per day | Information on lifestyle diseases (e-Health Net) | Health Japan 21 Action Support System

*The images shown are for illustration purposes only. Contents are subject to change without notice.

[Company Profile] Company Name: Ace Co., Ltd. Location: Tokyo Headquarters 3F/5F HF Monzen-Nakacho Building, 2-1-9 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0047 Kansai Headquarters 5F Itami Hankyu Building, 1-1-1 Nishidai, Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture 664-0858 Representative: Tetsuya Aburayama, Representative Director and President Established: September 1962 Business Activities: Operation of specialty food stores and real estate management Capital: 50 million yen