an improved drive unit for a food processor of the type wherein the drive unit is enclosed in a base housing and has a vertically extending spindle which extends into a processing bowl and carries rotary tools thereon . the drive unit comprises a horizontally mounted universal motor carrying a pinion gear at the end of its shaft . a ring gear meshes with the pinion and encircles the motor on a concavo - convex support structure . the support structure is coupled to the vertical spindle . included in the drive unit are a novel three point shock mounting for the motor and an automatic brake to prevent coasting of the tool after the motor is deenergized . in a further embodiment of the drive unit the motor and the concavo - convex ring gear are held in a motor mount which is vibrationally isolated from the base housing for providing quieter operation . this mount arches up over the dome of the ring gear which in turn arches up over the motor . a lockable adjustment is provided in the motor mount for adjusting the engagement between the pinion gear and ring gear , and another form of automatic brake is shown .