PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Bob Moore, who followed his passion in the middle of his life to found Bob’s Red Mill , died Saturday at his home, officials connected with the company said. He was 94.
He took his love of healthy foods and milling whole grains to found the company in 1978 in Milwaukie. The company quickly grew from just serving the Portland region to being a global food brand with more than 200 products in more than 70 countries.
When he was 81, officials said, he began an Employee Stock Ownership Plan for the company. At this time, more than 700 employee owners own the company.
He remained on the board until his death.
“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,” Bob’s Red Mill CEO Trey Winthrop said in a statement. “He did everything in his power to leave us on a strong path forward. All of us feel responsible and motivated to preserve his old-world approach to unprocessed foods; his commitment to pure, high-quality ingredients; and his generosity to employee owners and educational organizations focused on nutritional health.”