Who Owns Bob Evans Farms? A Full Guide to the Company’s Ownership and History

If you’re wondering “who owns Bob Evans Farms,” you’re not alone. Bob Evans is a well-known American brand famous for its restaurants and sausage products. Whether you’re a fan of Bob Evans Breakfast, a loyal customer of their grocery products, or just curious about the business behind the brand, this article will give you a complete answer.

Let’s explore who owns Bob Evans Farms today, how the ownership has changed over time, and what it means for the Bob Evans brand.

What Is Bob Evans Farms?

Bob Evans Farms is a household name in the United States, known for its two major businesses:

1. Bob Evans Restaurants  A chain of family-style restaurants serving homestyle American meals, especially breakfast and dinner.
2. Bob Evans Farms Food Products  Packaged food items like sausage, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and side dishes sold in grocery stores across the U.S.

The brand started as a small sausage business and has grown into a nationally recognized name.

A Quick History of Bob Evans

Bob Evans, a real person, founded the company in 1948 in Rio Grande, Ohio. He began making sausage on his farm and selling it to local restaurants. The quality and taste of the sausage gained popularity, and soon, he started packaging and branding it under the name Bob Evans Farms.

The first Bob Evans Restaurant opened in 1962. The business grew quickly throughout the Midwest and South. Bob Evans became not just a food brand but a full dining experience known for hospitality and comfort food.

Bob Evans passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on through the products and restaurants that carry his name.

Who Owns Bob Evans Farms Now?

As of today, Bob Evans Farms is owned by Post Holdings, Inc.

Post Holdings: The Parent Company

Post Holdings is a large consumer packaged goods company based in St. Louis, Missouri. It owns a wide range of food brands in categories like cereal, refrigerated foods, protein, and more. Some of its popular brands include Honey Bunches of Oats, Grape-Nuts, and Michael Foods.

In 2018, Post Holdings purchased Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (the packaged food division) for $1.5 billion. This acquisition included the Bob Evans grocery products but not the restaurant chain.

So, to be clear:

• Post Holdings owns Bob Evans Farms food products (sold in supermarkets).
• A different company owns Bob Evans Restaurants.

Who Owns Bob Evans Restaurants?

Bob Evans Restaurants was sold in 2017 to a San Francisco-based private equity firm called Golden Gate Capital.

Golden Gate Capital formed a new company called BEF Foods, LLC, to manage the restaurant chain. This sale separated the restaurants from the packaged food products.

So, since 2017:

• Golden Gate Capital owns Bob Evans Restaurants.
• Post Holdings owns the Bob Evans Farms food brand.

Even though the ownership is separate, both businesses still use the Bob Evans name and brand identity. Customers often don’t notice the difference because the branding remains consistent.

Why Was Bob Evans Split Into Two Companies?

The split allowed each part of the Bob Evans business to focus on its core strengths:

• Bob Evans Restaurants could focus on improving the dining experience, expanding locations, and modernizing operations.
• Bob Evans Farms food products could expand in retail markets and increase distribution under Post Holdings’ leadership.

The separation made financial sense and allowed for faster growth in both areas.

What Does This Mean for Customers?

From a customer perspective, very little has changed. Whether you go to a Bob Evans Restaurant for breakfast or buy Bob Evans mashed potatoes at the grocery store, you’re still enjoying the same trusted name and products.

However, behind the scenes, two different companies manage the restaurant and grocery sides of the business.

Bob Evans Farms Today

Under Post Holdings, Bob Evans Farms continues to grow in the refrigerated foods category. The brand is one of the top sellers of refrigerated side dishes in U.S. grocery stores. Their commitment to quality ingredients and homestyle taste remains strong.

New product innovations, better supply chains, and expanded distribution have helped Bob Evans Farms maintain its leadership in the marketplace.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever asked, “Who owns Bob Evans Farms?” Now you know that Post Holdings owns the famous food brand, and Golden Gate Capital runs the restaurants. Although they’re owned separately, Bob Evans’s legacy continues through the same great food and friendly dining that Americans have loved for decades.Whether you’re enjoying a hearty breakfast at the restaurant or picking up mashed potatoes from the store, Bob Evans is still bringing farm-fresh flavor to your table.