A History Lesson We’re Proud of

What started as a little bakery in Boulder, Colorado…

Is now a state-of-the-art bakery that produces high-quality certified organic breads and other baked goods.

Company History

Throughout its history, Rudi’s Organic Bakery has demonstrated a commitment to quality, allowing customers to feel confident in the care baked into every batch of bread. Rudi’s is the leading producer of certified organic bread in the U.S., and specializes in the production and distribution of delicious organic bread and baked goods products. The Company is committed to baking high-quality organic breads that contain the healthiest ingredients possible. Rudi’s Organic bread offerings include a wide variety of sandwich breads, artisan breads, rolls, buns, tortillas, English muffins and bagels.

What is now Rudi’s Organic Bakery began in 1976 as Rudi’s Bakery, a small local bakery opened by Sheldon Romer in Boulder, Colo. Romer named the bakery after Swami Rudrananda, a spiritual leader of an ashram in New York who was instrumental in bringing Eastern culture and spiritual traditions to many Americans. Rudi’s Bakery soon gained a reputation for nutritious, flavorful, preservative-free breads, rolls and buns.

In 1981, after a rigorous review process, Rudi’s entire product line became certified Kosher, and Rudi’s products began to appear on supermarket and natural food store shelves. The increased demand for Rudi’s offerings meant several moves to larger baking facilities. Rudi’s now occupies a 61,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art bakery in the heart of Boulder where its breads continue to be made in small batches using a special blend of centuries-old, craft baking techniques and modern baking methods.

Rudi’s Bakery became a leader in the organic industry in 1991, when the company started using organic ingredients. By 1998, Rudi’s was participating in an organic certification program, long before the U.S. National Organic Program was enacted in 2002. In 2001, Rudi’s Bakery became Rudi’s Organic Bakery, reflecting the company’s commitment to supporting and producing organic products.

Rudi’s Organic is part of Boulder-based Charter Baking Co., a recognized leader in organic and natural bread and baked goods that also includes The Baker, Vermont Bread Company and Matthews All-Natural brands.

Making a Difference

Rudi’s Organic Bakery’s original mission of making nutritious, flavorful, preservative-free baked goods is alive and well today. We are firmly committed to making the world a healthier place, and to conducting business practices that sustain and improve our environment and the communities in which we live and work. From our products to our ingredients to our commitment to sustainability and local communities, Rudi’s Organic is committed to healthy people, a healthy planet and healthy communities.

Sustainability Initiatives

Rudi’s Organic continually demonstrates its commitment to reducing its impact on the environment through a number of zero-waste and recycling programs. We practice many reuse and recycling programs to minimize our reliance and impact on landfills. One of these programs is recycling all scrap and returned bread in to feed for local pig farmers. Annually, the company recycles 1.9 million pounds of bread. Rudi’s Organic also has designed formal recycling programs for all major processing materials, including paper, cardboard, plastic waste and metal drums.

Community Involvement

Rudi’s Organic is an active supporter of several organic and environmental initiatives, including the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Organic Center, Naturally Boulder, and the Ecological Farming Association’s Eco Farm Conference. Additionally, Rudi’s Organic has a long history of supporting a number of local charities, clubs and schools including the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), a Boulder non-profit committed to helping those in need achieve a better future; Community Food Share, a Boulder and Broomfield, Colo.-based food bank; Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer.