Tom's of Maine

Tom's of Maine hopes that natural health will lead to corporate wealth. The company has made its living, and its reputation, by selling its flagship toothpaste brand (responsible for more than half of company sales), as well as mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant, soap, and shaving cream made from natural ingredients and distributed in environmentally-friendly packaging. The firm gives 10% of its pre-tax profits to charitable organizations and encourages its employees to use 5% of their paid time doing volunteer work. CEO Tom Chappell and his wife, VP Kate Chappell, founded Tom's of Maine in 1970. Seeking entry into the specialty toothpaste market, Colgate acquired the company for about $100 million in 2006.