Bedford Industries Founder Bob Ludlow Named 2027 Inductee into the ASB Baking Hall of Fame
WORTHINGTON, Minn. – Bedford Industries is proud to announce that founder Bob Ludlow has been selected as a 2027 inductee into the American Society of Baking (ASB) Baking Hall of Fame, recognizing his lasting contributions to the commercial baking industry through innovation, entrepreneurship, and service to bakers worldwide. The honor was announced Oct. 22 during the Baking Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Bundy Baking Museum in Urbana, Ohio.
More than six decades ago, Bob Ludlow identified a challenge facing commercial bakeries as packaging operations became increasingly automated. Traditional ties made with tar-bound wire often frayed, cracked, and exposed wire during application, creating reliability issues on high-speed packaging lines. Driven by a belief that there had to be a better solution, Ludlow developed the world's first plastic-coated wire twist tie. The innovation helped bakeries improve packaging reliability, maintain product freshness, and support higher production speeds, quickly becoming a trusted packaging solution throughout the baking industry.
At a pivotal time in the modernization of commercial baking, Ludlow's invention helped support the industry's transition toward automation. Today, more than 60 years later, the twist tie remains one of the most recognizable and widely used closures in bakery packaging, demonstrating the lasting impact of his innovation.
In announcing the 2027 class, ASB recognized Ludlow as an "inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of Bedford Industries, whose development of the twist tie became one of the most enduring innovations in bakery packaging."
Hall of Fame inductees are selected through a nomination and review process led by a committee of industry leaders representing diverse areas of the baking industry. Nominations are evaluated using a confidential scoring system that recognizes lasting industry impact and contributions.
The Baking Hall of Fame is permanently installed at the Bundy Baking Museum in Urbana, Ohio, where the announcement was made during Thursday's ceremony.
What began in 1966 as a solution to a bakery packaging challenge has grown into a global company serving commercial bakeries and food manufacturers around the world. Today, Bedford is the world’s largest twist tie manufacturer, providing closures, packaging solutions, and equipment that continue to meet the evolving needs of the baking industry.
While Ludlow's invention transformed bakery packaging, his legacy extends beyond the products he created. Known for his persistence, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit, he built a culture that encouraged innovation, problem-solving, and continuous learning. His belief that setbacks are opportunities for improvement helped shape a family-oriented company where employees were empowered to contribute ideas and pursue new solutions. Many of Bedford's innovations can be traced not only to his ingenuity, but also to the culture of innovation he helped establish.
Today, at 97 years old, Bob Ludlow continues to witness the lasting impact of the company he founded alongside Patricia Ludlow, his wife of more than 70 years. In August, he joined employees and family members in celebrating Bedford’s 60th anniversary. The business remains family-led under its third generation of leadership, with Kim Milbrandt serving as CEO and Jay Milbrandt serving as President.
Ludlow's induction into the ASB Baking Hall of Fame places him among a distinguished group of industry leaders whose innovations and leadership have helped advance commercial baking. Established in 2005, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the U.S. baking industry through innovation, service, and lasting impact. Ludlow will be formally recognized as a member of the 2027 ASB Baking Hall of Fame class during the induction ceremony on February 24, 2027, in Atlanta, held as part of ASB's BakingTECH conference. For Bedford Industries, the recognition is especially meaningful during the company's 60th anniversary year, celebrating a legacy that began with a simple idea to help bakers package products more reliably and continues to influence the industry today.
