About Us | History

The Garden Basket Food Market is Markham’s landmark grocery store. A household name, the Garden Basket family has helped nourish and entertain Markham families since 1972.

It was 1929 when Sam Comella and Sam Badali opened the Sunkist Food Market on Danforth Avenue in Toronto's east end. Their commitment to quality and personal service steadily grew the business. It's these standards that have been the basis of the business ever since.

Forward to 1967, and that's when Jack Comella, Sam's nephew, purchased the business.

By 1972, Jack decided to expand. He located his new store on Woodbine Avenue to the north of Toronto.

In 1988, Sunkist Food Markets expanded again. A site on Markham Road allowed for a store more than three times the size of the Woodbine store. The larger size permitted expansion into new product areas, such as meat, deli, bakery, groceries, a salad bar and a flower shop.

We still remember the humble beginnings of our first store, and still embrace the values learned there, which have led to our continued success today.

We are very proud of our history and success as Sunkist Food Market and The Garden Basket Food Markets.