Founder of Bob’s Red Mill Bob Moore Dies at 94

Bob Moore, the founder of Bob’s Red Mill, has died at the age of 94.

The passing of the founder of a line of products that not only taste good but are good for you was announced on the company’s Instagram page. The message began by sharing “heavy hearts” as the company posted details of Moore’s death.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our Founder, Bob Moore, left this world today, Saturday, February 10, 2024. He was 94 years old and full of the same love for wholesome foods as the day he founded Bob’s Red Mill,” it began.

The statement spoke of Moore’s “passion, ingenuity and respect for others.” It shared that Moore will forever inspire the employee-owners of Bob’s Red Mill.

The company promises to carry on his legacy by bringing wholesome foods to customers as they have done for over 40 years. The statement ended with how his employees will miss Moore’s “energy and larger-than-life personality.”

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According to Salon, Moore founded Bob’s Red Mill in 1978. The co-founder was his wife, Charlee, who passed away in 2018.

The idea for Bob’s Red Mill came from Charlee, who wanted to feed their sons more nutritious food than was widely available in their hometown. The Milwaukie, Oregon-based company began serving Portland but quickly grew into a national brand, offering over 200 products in more than 70 countries. 

In 2010, Moore created an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that gave employees stock in the company. The idea was that each person working for the company would become an employee-owner, aiming for Bob’s Red Mill to become 100% employee-owned. On April 30, 2020, the company achieved that milestone.

“Bob’s legacy will live on forever in all of us who had the opportunity to work with him and is infused into the Bob’s Red Mill brand,” said Bob’s Red Mill CEO Trey Winthrop in a press release. The statement applauded Moore’s approach to unprocessed foods and high-quality ingredients and his generosity to employee owners and organizations focused on nutritional health.

He is survived by sons Ken, Bob, Jr., and David; daughters-in-law Dora, Barbara, Ashleigh, and Terry; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.