OXO

OXO, maker of “tools that are good for you” produces an empire’s-worth of food containers, salad spinners, mandolins and other kitchen tools — as well as more than 850 kinds of home goods, from heat-resistant spatulas to stainless steel gardening tools. But the brand originated on an entirely human scale: after housewares entrepreneur Sam Farber saw how his wife’s arthritis made using ordinary kitchen tools difficult, he founded OXO to develop ergonomically-designed cooking supplies that didn’t hurt people’s hands. In 1990, 15 Good Grips kitchen tools were brought to shelves; today, offerings are as plentiful as they are diverse, including objects like the innovative Candula line of rechargeable lights, which provide eight hours of ambient LED light and — unlike regular wax candles — won’t blow out during a strong gust of wind.