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Our Story

1982 Will Willemsen founded SUNRIPE at 1119 Lakeshore Road, Sarnia with $2,000 cash, a 1978 Ford econoline van and a $10,000 loan from a friend.	1983 Second SUNRIPE location is opened on London Road, Sarnia.	1984 Bought property across the street on Lakeshore in Sarnia and moved the first SUNRIPE store to 1130 Lakeshore Rd, Sarnia.
1984 Hired Fred Ovens, a retired baker to add bakery to Lakeshore SUNRIPE location.	1985 Built an expanded bakery and new LCBO store on the SUNRIPE Lakeshore road property.	1986 Added Meat Shoppe and Delicatessen to the Lakeshore Rd location.
1990 - 1992 Will marries Ingrid and she moves to Canada to help lead SUNRIPE.	1993 London Rd, Sarnia location lease not renewed.	1996 Ingrid and Will welcome Kysa and Ryall, twins, born at St. Josephs, London Ontario
1998 Renovated SUNRIPE Lakeshore Rd. location to add large produce cooler and loading dock.	2001 The Willemsen Family welcomes Mia born at St. Josephs, London Ontario.	2005 Second SUNRIPE location is built at 744 Adelaide St. N, London. (Corner of Oxford St. E. & Adelaide St. N.)
2010 Built new 16,000 square foot SUNRIPE store at 1141 Lakeshore Rd, Sarnia.	2011 Expanded SUNRIPE Adelaide location with new prepared food kitchen.	2016 Third SUNRIPE location is built at 1175 Fanshawe Park Rd, Hyde Park, London
2021 Expanded Sarnia SUNRIPE location with more retail space and new Deli, Kitchen and Meat department work spaces.	2023 Moved to 1800 Adelaide St. N. London from 744 Adelaide St. N. into a brand new, larger building.	2023 Ingrid Willemsen passes away after brief battle with cancer.

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