Cuisinart is a bran of small kitchen appliances, especially the food processor of the same name, one of the first to become popular in America. It was originally a French company, founded by Carl Sontheimer in 1973, and became a leading brand in the USA. It was endorsed early on by Julia Child and James Beard, ostensibly as a means of quickly preparing healthy food. It now sells products in the UK but only through specialist kitchen retailers there. The trademark is owned by Conair Corporation.