Gil Bundy, Bill Bundy, Bob Bundy and Tom Bundy together lead their family business, global leader Bundy Baking Solutions. Last year, they celebrated the company’s 60th anniversary in the baking industry. Now, they share a
behind-the-scenes view of its success.
Catalina Mihu: Bundy Baking Solutions has established a global reach with its products and services. How is the company set up to provide unique bakeware and coating solutions on each of its markets?
Gil Bundy: Bundy Baking Solutions operates globally, but our strength lies in local expertise. Our international teams understand the specific needs of their regions – whether that means adapting to regional baked goods types or supporting varying levels of bakery automation. It’s a global mindset, but our execution is local. We’ve built up strong regional teams that speak the language, know the customers, and understand their baking needs.
This structure allows us to bring our solutions – whether pans, coatings, refurbishment or equipment – directly to the customer in a way that’s tailored and responsive.
Mihu: And how is the experience earned in one place shared throughout the network?
Bill Bundy: We have a collaborative approach to innovation and problem-solving across all our facilities. Technical knowledge, customer feedback, and engineering advancements flow across teams, from Brazil to the U.S. to Romania and beyond. A challenge with a baguette tray in Europe might be solved with input from engineers in Brazil and the U.S.
”My journey into the baking industry started when I was a child. My father, Russ, would take us to bakeries to see how bakeries operated and we were always allowed to test the freshly made baked goods. It’s easy to fall in love with customers who treat you to warm doughnuts or freshly baked bread. ”
Gil Bundy
Gil Bundy: We’ve got systems and relationships in place – not just in sales, but in engineering, coating, and manufacturing – that allow us to learn from each other and keep raising the bar.
Mihu: What are some of the newest developments in solutions and services at Bundy Baking Solutions?
Bob Bundy: Our focus continues to be on helping bakeries improve efficiency, reduce labor and energy costs, and increase sustainability. We’ve focused on servicing customers to do more with less – less labor, less energy, less waste. Our ePAN® Technology is a great example of that – it’s lighter, more efficient, and better for the environment.
Other recent innovations include the TabLock tray, developed to work with Mecatherm lines. It features easy-to-replace screens, significantly reducing waste and cost over time.
Bill Bundy: We’re also seeing growth in large-format pans that let bakers bake more bread per cycle, increasing throughput and reducing energy consumption.
Mihu: The company was founded in 1964. How did Russell T. Bundy & Associates, Inc grow into Bundy Baking Solutions? What would you consider the milestones of the past 60 years?
Bill Bundy: Bundy Baking Solutions has evolved from a small family operation to a global multi-family, multi-national operation by staying committed to quality, relationships, and smart growth. Dad (Russ) started with a real belief in doing things better – and being dependable. Over time, we kept that focus, while the industry changed around us.
Milestones include the early expansion of American Pan, strategic acquisitions like Chicago Metallic and Runex, and international growth into Europe, South America, and beyond. But one thing has remained constant – our connection to the baker.
”I started vith the company when I was 16 years old, working as a warehouse employee at RTB in Columbus, Ohio. My responsibilities included unloading used equipment and pans from the trucks, and then organizing and cleaning them.”
Bill Bundy
Gil Bundy: The biggest constant has been our people and our focus on the baking industry.
Mihu: And how would the company’s development steps combine with your own roles in the companies?
Gil Bundy: All four Bundy sons have worked in the business across all levels and departments – in operations, sales, coating, and customer support – giving them a strong connection to the products and the people who use them. From starting new pan cleaning plants from the ground up, to starting completely new businesses, we have all had various roles as the company grew and expanded.
Bob Bundy: We all started out in very hands-on roles. For me, it was coating operations, including living in France and Canada for a time. That experience gave each of us the foundation we needed to lead.
Bundy Baking Solutions brands
AMERICAN PAN
Area of expertise: Industrial baking pans & coatings
Solutions: custom and standard-size baking pans, pan coatings, and pan refurbishment services
ACCUSPRAY
Area of expertise: Automated spraying systems for release agents
Solutions: precision pan greasers and oilers
CHICAGO METALLIC
Area of expertise: Commercial & foodservice bakeware
Solutions: stock bakeware for retail and foodservice
PAN GLO
Area of expertise: Pan cleaning & recoating
Solutions: cleaning and recoating services for baking pans
RUNEX
Area of expertise: Baking equipment & coatings
Solutions: baking tools for professional bakers across the Scandinavian region
SYNOVA
Area of expertise: Release agents
Solutions: custom release agent formulas
TURBEL
Area of expertise: Baking pans & coatings
Solutions: baking pans, coatings
USA PAN
Area of expertise: Commercial bakeware for retail
Solutions: US-made bakeware, cookware
Mihu: How would you describe Bundy’s workflow with craft bakeries and industrial operations? How is each best served?
Bill Bundy: We serve both large industrial bakers and small craft bakers – and we’re proud of that. Our global brands like American Pan and Turbel meet the needs
of high-volume lines, while Chicago Metallic and Runex, provide more flexibility for artisanal operations.
Tom Bundy: We work with some of the largest industrial bakers in the world, but we’ve never walked away from any baker that needs our product and support. We also support growing bakeries, helping them scale their operations with the right trays, coatings, and advice from our expert teams.
Bundy Baking Solutions – years in the family business
First-generation leadership:
Russell T. (Russ) Bundy – Co-founder (1964–2024)
Elizabeth (Liz) Bundy – Co-founder, Treasurer (1964 – present)
Second-generation leadership:
Gil Bundy – Chief Executive Officer at Bundy Baking Solutions (1981 – present)
Tom Bundy – President, Pan Glo (1984 – present)
Robert (Bob) Bundy – President, Global Coating Operations (2006 – present)
William (Bill) Bundy – President of Global Manufacturing (2010 – present)
Brad Bundy – Senior Project Engineer, DuraShield (2011 – present)
Mihu: And how do Bundy Baking and its companies/partners adapt to changes in the global business/geopolitical environment?
Bob Bundy: We’ve responded to global shifts by strengthening our regional operations. For example, we’ve expanded our recoating footprint across Europe to ensure local, timely service despite transport or logistics challenges.
We’ve made and continue to make investments in people and infrastructure ahead of customer demand in several territories. We’d rather be ready before the customer needs us, not after. This forward-thinking approach helps our customers maintain reliability no matter what’s happening globally.
This is Innovation
Mihu: How would you describe innovation in bakeware and coatings currently? And what goals are being considered for new developments in the following years?
Bill Bundy: Innovation today is about enabling efficiency, safety, and sustainability in bakery operations. We collaborate with OEMs and bakers alike to make sure our trays work seamlessly in the next generation of ovens and automated systems. We’re working closely with OEMs as they develop larger-format ovens, for instance, to make sure our trays are compatible and optimized for those lines.
Bob Bundy: We offer a full range of coatings, including Fluoropolymer and non-PFAS formulas. PFAS are a big topic and we have several options that have been used in bakeries for decades to meet any requirement.
Mihu: Over time, Bundy Baking Solutions founded American Pan, purchased Chicago Metallic and recently partnered with companies such as Turbel. What is your view on growth across brands, forming and/or buying new companies, as well as establishing partnerships? How is each form of expansion determined, as a general policy?
Bill Bundy: We don’t acquire or partner lightly. Every new relationship must align with our values and complement our capabilities. We don’t grow just to grow. It has to make sense for our customers, our technology and our culture. Our partnerships with Cainco and Turbel work because they’re great teams with deep baking expertise.
Mihu: What smaller specialist would make an interesting partner for Bundy Baking? What are your selection criteria?
Gil Bundy: We’re always on the lookout for partners that bring complementary technologies, new materials, or geographic presence to help us better serve bakeries worldwide. That might mean a specialist in new coating innovations, advanced bakeware designs, or a team with deep regional knowledge that aligns with our growth strategy.
”When I was 16, I began working for RTB as a general laborer. My first job was to clean out a doughnut fryer that had been shipped to us with the oil still in it!”
Bob Bundy
What matters most is a shared dedication to the baking industry. We’re not looking for short-term gains – we value long-term partnerships and meaningful innovation.
We’ve already developed greenfield operations where needed, and we’re very much willing to do so again if the right opportunity arises. We’re a family business, and we’re looking for people who want to grow with us – who believe in what we do and how we do it.
Mihu: And how are the expanded teams coordinated to work together?
Gil Bundy: We’ve built a structure that connects our global teams – sales, marketing, engineering, production, finance, legal, and IT– to work seamlessly together. We’re deeply invested in this coordination, not just in theory but through real, ongoing collaboration across departments and regions. When we expand – whether through acquisitions or new operations – we bring everyone up to speed with a long-term mindset, ensuring alignment with our quality, service, and innovation standards. It’s about leveraging the strength of our global team to deliver consistent excellence for our customers worldwide.
Mihu: What are the markets in your focus for the upcoming years? Where do you anticipate the most growth? And what solutions will see an increase in demand?
Bill Bundy: We anticipate continued growth in Europe and the MENA region, with increasing demand for sustainable coatings, high-efficiency pans, and total pan management programs. These are strong growth regions. We’re building local teams and investing where we know our customers will need support.
Mihu: From your work with bakeries worldwide, what growing trends can you observe? And what changing needs have to be met, regarding bakeware? How is product/process/equipment/operator safety guaranteed?
Gil Bundy: There’s a clear move toward larger formats, more automation, and simplified processes. Labor is also a challenge, and bakeries need partners who can help them work smarter.
Tom Bundy: Our people are our strength. They’re not just selling pans – they’re solving problems with our customers. Safety is a priority for us; it is embedded in our design and manufacturing process – it’s never an afterthought.
”My first job with the company was at the first established Pan Glo plant in Maple Shade, New Jersey; however, my career within the baking industry started much earlier than that.”
Tom Bundy
Bill Bundy: Safety is at the core of our design. We don’t compromise.
Mihu: Changing and local regulations contribute to the local landscape of each market; how do they influence your work, and what are some of the biggest changes you are preparing for? Please illustrate.
Bill Bundy: At Bundy Baking Solutions, we do more than just meet local and regional regulatory requirements – we strive to exceed them, with a proactive team and future-facing innovation. Our safety and environmental compliance teams are robust and proactive, preparing us for emerging standards.
Bob Bundy: We have had non-PFAS formulas for decades, each delivering great results in various applications. We constantly invest in research and development of new coatings.
Gil Bundy: Bundy’s approach isn’t reactive – it’s about staying ahead. We collaborate closely with customers, regulatory experts, and R&D teams to ensure our pan and coating solutions are future-ready across every market we serve.
