Greetings,
I heard some horrifying news recently… Bob’s Red Mill was closing! The red building on the Milwaukie Expressway is an icon of northwest entrepreneurship, individuality, and progressive values. The passing of founder Bob Moore in 2024 gave reason to worry that some big conglomerate would swoop in and operate it “more efficiently” and kill the whole thing, and I thought this was the tolling of their bell. I was relieved to find out that they’re only closing the ”consumer-facing operations”. They closed the CAFE on Feb 9 and the RETAIL SPACE on Feb 17. 44 people will lose their jobs but for now (and for the foreseeable future) BOB’S RED MILL WILL CONTINUE to provide whole-grain goodness to people around the world. Whew!
Bob Moore was born right here in Portland in 1929. His career covered department stores, the Army, gas stations, small mill businesses, and plans for the seminary when he retired. It was his wife, Charlee, who began experiments with whole-grain bread that led to the founding of Bob’s Red Mill in 1978. Ten years later sales were approaching $3 million. They began expanding internationally in 2000, and by 2005 sales were between $30 and $50 million. When Bob died last year at the age of 94 the company produced over 400 products with revenues over $239 million.
Bob’s Red Mill is famous for its quality products, but it’s also at least as famous for the way the business is run. As Bob explained, “People are everything. I think you have to put people above money, even though money’s very important and you have to have money to keep your people. The love of money and the pursuit of it can get people in trouble.” The love of money could have legitimately prompted him to sell the company he’d built; after all, he’d had many, many offers to buy as the company grew. But in 2010 Bob walked his talk by signing over one-third of the stock to his employees, putting it on the road to be an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company. Today, the company is 100% employee-owned, one of 6548 ESOPs in the US.
Beyond the ownership, Bob’s works hard to make a difference in their community. It’s a certified B-corp, a corporation chartered to provide some sort of a public benefit as well as profit. In 2024 they earned a gold certification from Clackamas County for sustainability. They’re part of the Community Advisory Task Force to implement the county’s Climate Action Plan. Their 120 kW solar power system is a daily advertisement for green, carbon-free power. And that’s just scratching the surface… look for Bob’s folks at the Climate Collaborative, the Energy Trust of Oregon, the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, and more. And you STILL wouldn’t be done, as Bob’s commitment to ethical sourcing, regenerative agriculture, watershed stewardship, human rights, and fair wages are ‘baked in’ to all their products.
Bob Moore’s intentionality, care, values, and commitment to his employees all contributed to the success and vitality of the company. His forward-thinking meant that when he died, the values he’d cared about wouldn’t die with him, but would be carried on by people who understood, shared, and would individually benefit from them. I’m sorry we won’t be able to slip by for a Red Mill breakfast anymore, but very, very glad we’ll continue to benefit from his vision for decades to come.
Make a great day,
Digging Deeper…
Bob’s Red Mill website
Obituary: Bob Moore of Bob’s Red Mill dies at 94, leaves company to employees, Sasha Rogelberg in Fortune,
Truly Legendary Bob’s Red Mill Cafe and Retail Shop in Milwaukie Is Closing, Paolo Bicchieri in Eater, Feb 2025
Bob’s Red Mill information on RocketReach
Employee Ownership by the Numbers, National Center for Employee Ownership
What You Might Not Know About Bob’s Red Mill, the Van Trump Report, Mar 2022
Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. History, Funding Universe
Bob’s Red Mill: Securing The Future Through Employee Ownership, Christopher Marquis in Forbes, May 2024
A Complete Guide to Starting a B Corp, Miranda Fraraccio at USChamber.com
B Corp: Definition, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Examples, Daugherty, Khartit, and Rosenston on Investopedia, Aug 2024
Portland icon Bob’s Red Mill earns gold in sustainability, Portland Tribune, Mar 2024
Bob’s Red Mill: Good for People and the Planet, New Seasons Market
What We’re Working On, Bob’s Red Mill
Former gas station owner and JCPenney manager who became a millionaire after 50 dies at 94, leaving his company to employees, Sasha Rogelberg on Fortune, Feb 2024
Can Corporate Profit and Morality Be Compatible? Jim Hightower on Marcellusnews.com, Dec 2024
Doing Good Business in the Food Economy, Jim Hightower on Creators.com
