Boss Bob Gives Company to Employees

Bob Moore overlooks his landmark Bob's Red Mill Natural Food store in Milwaukie, Or. Photo for the Oregonian by Doug Beghtel

Now here’s one you won’t read every day: This week Bob Moore, owner of the internationally known Bob’s Red Mill Natural Food store based in Milwaukie, Oregon gave the whole business to his 209 employees at his 81st birthday party.

Red Mill produces and sells more than 400 whole-grain flours, cereals and bread mixes.  The company even won the world’s porridge-making championship in Scotland a while back.

The Oregonian goes on to say:

“This is Bob taking care of us,” said Lori Sobelson, who helps run the business’ retail operationshe said. “He expects a lot out of us, but really gives us the world in return.” Moore declined to say how much he thinks the company is worth. In 2004, however, one business publication estimated that year’s revenues at more than $24 million. A company news release issued this week stated that Bob’s Red Mill has chalked up an annual growth rate of between 20 percent to 30 percent every year since.

“In some ways I had a choice,” Moore said of what he could have done with the company he founded with his wife, Charlee, in 1978. “But in my heart, I didn’t. These people are far too good at their jobs for me to just sell it.

Moore did have one caveat:

“I may have given them the company,” he said, chuckling, “but the boss part is still mine.”

For the whole story go to: http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/02/bobs_red_mill_natural_foods_ro.html

Tags: agriculture, food, Oregon