# Bob's Red Mill: Bob Moore

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-05-21
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore

## Summary

Bob Moore, founder of Bob's Red Mill, recounts his journey from a failed gas station venture to building a $100 million natural foods empire using 19th-century quartz millstones. After a devastating arson fire destroyed his original mill, Moore leveraged industry expos to secure national distribution, refusing acquisition offers to maintain his company's culture and mission. The episode also covers the postscript story of Mike Bolos and Jason Grohowski, who created the Deskview portable window desk after identifying a gap in office ergonomics.

## Chapters

- [1:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=69) Early Life and Failed Ventures
- [11:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=662) Inspiration from 'John Goffey's Mill'
- [15:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=957) Founding Morse Flour Mill and Bob's Red Mill
- [27:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=1647) The Arson Fire and Business Resilience
- [34:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=2060) National Expansion via Natural Foods Expo
- [37:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=2270) Philanthropy and Employee Ownership
- [41:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-05-21-bobs-red-mill-bob-moore#t=2479) Deskview: From Prototype to Kickstarter

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Bob's Red Mill (company)
- Morse Flour Mill (company)
- Deskview (product)
- Fred Meyer (company)
- Safeway (company)
- Albertsons (company)
- John Goffey's Mill (product)

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- [Founder Feature: Morgan Murdock of Unbothered Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-02-founder-feature-morgan-murdock-of-unbothered-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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