Bedford Celebrates Founder’s 95th Birthday
Bedford
Bedford is celebrating a big birthday this week.
No, it’s not the company, which is just a few years shy of turning 60, but of the man who started it all. Employees helped celebrate Bedford Founder Bob Ludlow’s upcoming 95th birthday during their annual cookout.
Bob will also soon celebrate another big milestone. He and his wife, Patricia, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Bob and Pat have been the foundation of Bedford since its inception in 1966 and continue to influence the values and direction of the company.
How did a farm kid in the rural Midwest create the largest twist tie company in the world?
Bedford’s Early Years:
If you’ve used a twist tie recently, chances are you’ve got Bob to thank. Although he didn’t invent the twist tie–he is the man who perfected it.
In true Minnesota fashion, the idea came to him in an ice fishing house. He and Pat were ice fishing with friends when the group pulled out a loaf of bread to make sandwiches. The bread was closed with a paper/asphalt twist tie that was fraying and separating horribly from the wire. He instinctively thought, “I can make something better!”
Even after careful research and assessment of the business landscape, Bob said the decision to enter the business required a lot of faith. He gives a lot of credit to his wife who, while caring for their two children at home, had faith and supported the company’s start up by providing secretarial duties.
“It takes a special kind of wife to withstand the pressures and not let daily fears dominate your life,” Bob said of the support he received from Pat to start up a business with no safety net.
Bob’s Background:
- Grew up in Worthington, MN
- Served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict
- Graduated in 1954 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in agriculture economics
- Turkey farmed with father, Bedford Ludlow, before leaving to work in industry
Early Success
Bob approached his entry into the twist tie business conservatively. He rented half a garage and hired just one employee. The two worked with bare bones equipment (most of which they built) and materials to produce a plastic-coated wire tie.
“The necessity of frugality was good beginning training,” Bob said. “We did not even buy a hammer without thinking about it for a day!”
The Bedford Name:
The name “Bedford” comes from Bob’s family. His father was named Bedford Ludlow, which was passed down from Bob’s great-grandfather, Salathiel ‘S.J.’ Bedford.
Bedford made a name for itself in the baking industry when it introduced its paper/plastic twist tie. They loved its durability to run in new automation equipment, ability to be printed on, and unlike other options in the marketplace, did not separate from the wire.
Under Bob’s leadership, Bedford introduced many more products, many of which were inspired by the original twist tie. Double Wire Tin-Tie® made it possible for cookie/snack and coffee packaging to be easily reclosed. When new fresh produce labeling requirements emerged in the 1990s, Bedford quickly made produce tie and Bib Ties® for growers to add barcodes and meet traceability requirements.
Before the evolution of the Internet, Bedford marketed its products and built a global brand by attending tradeshows across the world. It continues to make regular tradeshow appearances today.
Notable Markets Bedford Products Serve Today:
• Baking • Coffee • Produce • Medical • Hardware • Health & Beauty • Home & Housewares • Pet • Industrial • Spirits • Beverage
People First
Although “world’s largest twist tie supplier” is an impressive title, it’s even more incredible that Bob led this achievement in his rural midwestern town. As more U.S. companies make economic decisions to move production abroad, Bedford has always manufactured its products in Worthington, which in 2022 recorded a population less than 14,000 (and only 9,000 when Bedford got its start in 1966). It is one of Worthington’s largest businesses.
Regardless of how great the achievement, Bob has always been a humble leader who gives employees the credit. Many employees have spent entire careers with the company or have children or grandchildren working here today.
“Bedford’s success is only 1% business related–the other 99% is people,” Bob has said in the past about the value of Bedford’s employees and company culture.
Today, Bedford remains a family-owned company under 3rd-generation leadership. At 95, Bob is still active in the company — serving on the board of directors and can be seen around the plant interacting with employees, who look forward to seeing him!
Happy birthday to the man who revolutionized the packaging industry, created a place that takes care of employees and the rural community it’s located, and continues to nurture core values that guides the company nearly 60 years later.
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