Big Ideas. Bold Ventures: Vitamix

Vitamix creates industry-defining blenders that last 10x longer than an average blender.

Among professional chefs and home cooks, Vitamix blenders have a reputation for being the best. And year after year, that reputation is backed up by independent testers like Wirecutter, America's Test Kitchen, Epicurious and others. These industry-defining blenders break down any ingredient into healthy, delicious smoothies, soups and much more.

Plus, they’re engineered to last up to 10x longer than an average blender. Founded in 1921 by William Grover Barnard and still owned by the Barnard family, Vitamix has been based in Olmsted Township since 1948 and has been granted more than 865 patents in those years. Today the company employs more than 700 people, and Vitamix products are sold in 130 countries.