Sunripe Adelaide

March 2023

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You know, it’s hard to believe it has been 18 years since we tore down the old houses on Adelaide Street and built our first London store.  

 

When I first started Sunripe in 1982 in a little 1,000 square foot store in Sarnia, we sold produce, only produce. Produce from the farmers that I had grown up with in the Blenheim area. We sold some strawberries and potatoes and mushrooms, oh yes sweet corn (lots of sweet corn). I think the store had a total of 20 produce items when we started. When fall arrived I couldn't source produce from the local farms anymore so I started going to the Toronto and Detroit Food Terminals. Boy I really didn’t know what I was doing. I had to learn how to buy fruit and vegetables from around the world. Thank goodness I grew up farming… at least I had a solid background. That first year was a killer, we barely made it to spring. The days grew warmer and business picked up. Thank goodness. 

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In 1985 I met Abbie and Fred Ovens (who had owned Sarnia Bakery and serendipitously retired too early). What luck. They brought all their recipes (many from Fred’s dad who had travelled by horse and buggy, house to house in Sarnia in the early 1900’s). Our bakery was born! 

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A few years later we added a full meat department and deli. So that’s what we started with when we kicked open the doors in London, on Adelaide Street – Produce, Bakery, Meat and Deli. 

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I remember going from house to house in the neighbourhood explaining what we were going to build. Ingrid and I had Mia (our youngest) in a baby carrier. Mia is graduating from the University of Guelph next month, my how time passes. 

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Since opening our store on Adelaide 18 years ago, we have added a second London location (in Hyde Park) and 2 years ago we doubled the size of the Sarnia store, now 27,000 square feet.  

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Today, the growth in the business has been our wide selection of prepared food items and meals. Restaurants have become very expensive, so we can offer affordable meal solutions. We have added state-of-the-art commercial kitchens that allow us to prepare these great meals.

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Because of this expansion of offerings and changing technologies, we have outgrown our current Adelaide location. To allow Sunripe to succeed we have purchased and built a new store that boasts a heat reclaim system (heat generated from the refrigeration heats the store), led lighting and a new kitchen. 

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Although it will be a sad moment when we have to leave our little store on March 28th, 2023, we have made great memories. You have been great, loyal customers and we hope you join us in this new adventure. When you come to visit us at our new store (1800 Adelaide St. N.), we are sure you won’t be disappointed. There will be so many new products for you to taste and try. We will start with the basics and keep adding products as the team evolves. 

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From the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you for your support and your loyalty. Ingrid and I feel privileged to have been able to serve you for so many years. 

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Thanks,

Will