Sunshine Foods maintains consistent, hometown atmosphere

Not much has changed around Sunshine Foods in recent years, and as far as we’re concerned, that’s a good thing.

The Goebel family — husband and wife team, Merlin and Sherri, along with their kids, Jared and Casie has been operating the Hartford location since 2001, but their history in the grocery business goes back even further. Merlin started out in the industry almost 50 years ago, working in stores in Luverne, Minnesota and Flandreau, South Dakota.

In the 20+ years that they’ve been running the Hartford store, the community has enjoyed Sunshine’s welcoming atmosphere and consistent service. In today’s world of big-box retailers and even online grocery options, there’s something extra special about the cozy, hometown feel of the local grocery store.

Over the last decade, Jared and Casie have begun to take on more responsibility in the store, serving as co-managers and allowing Merlin and Sherri to step back from the business a bit.

Though the roles are shifting, the entire Goebel family remains committed to Sunshine and Hartford. Getting to chat with customers and serve the local community are what keep all four of them engaged in the grocery business.

“It’s great to be part of a close-knit team and community,” said Merlin. “We love providing that friendly, hometown feeling that you get when you walk into Sunshine.”

As a small, family-owned business, the Goebels are able to make impactful investments in the store that fit the needs of their customers, rather than being tied to the whims of a larger chain store. Whether that’s improving the in-store displays or the parking lot, or ordering products specifically requested by customers, the team at Sunshine aims to please.

Beyond those intentional improvements as time goes on, the Hartford community can expect the same reliability and consistency from their hometown Sunshine Foods. 