Ginny & Linda: Sisters and Visionaries
From the mid-‘70’s through the mid ‘90’s, sisters Ginny and Linda Forti were the Bakery. These two sisters pushed the bakery from a regional distributor of breads, potica and fine Italian sweets and cookies into the national scene. They traveled coast-to-coast exhibiting their goods at food shows, building a national market one step at a time.
Then, in the mid-90's, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. Linda had a zest for life that was contagious—everywhere she went, she filled the space with a great love and a memorable laugh. Whether working behind the deli counter, at a trade show, or relaxing at the lake, she was a reminder that this life should be enjoyed and that good food, family and friends should be cherished.
Sadly, Linda passed away in 1999. The love and laughter she left behind will forever remain. Today, she is still celebrated, still remembered at the Bakery, where the iconic photo of her lounging on the beach serves as daily reminder to celebrate life. Make every day an occasion to celebrate.
Our story: from Italy to Hibbing
The Forti Family—Santi, Ada, Vincent and
Geno with parents Virginia and Giulio.
Tom, Vincent, Paul, Linda, Mary, Ginny
and Anna Forti (seated).
Second and Fourth Generation Bakers,
Grandpa Vincent and Paul Forti
The story of Sunrise Bakery begins in Rome, Italy when Giulio Forti, a seasoned Roman baker, ventures to Minnesota’s Iron Range to forge a new future for him and his bride,Virginia Ricci. In 1913, Giulio and Virginia started the Sunrise Bakery in Old North Hibbing.
And so began the First Century of Baking. Marked by humble beginnings, hand-made goods and horse drawn carriages, Sunrise Bakery would grow from its original brick oven to a regional and national distributor of high quality, hand-crafted breads and baked goods.
Giulio and Virginia’s children, Vincent, Ada, Santi and Geno, carried forth the Forti family tradition. From his father, Vincent learned to bake and then modernized the bakery in the 1940s. Vincent’s daughters, Ginny and Linda, gained national accounts and exposure and became the memorable faces of the store.
Today, fourth generation baker and owner, Paul, continues our family's tradition. After learning to bake alongside his Grandfather Vincent, he continues our legacy of creating high quaity goods, made from scratch, without preservatives.
We welcome this second century of baking and take immense pride in the Forti family's many successes in crafting high qaulity food, including: Sunrise Deli & Creative Gourmet, a pasta and deli business owned by Vincent's son Tom and his wife Mary; Sunrise Market, a market and cafe in St. Paul, MN, ran by Tom's son Tommy; and Three Spoon Bakery, a specialty cookie and cupcake business began by Vincent's grandaughter Susan Ebner in Edina, MN.
A century later, we remain, true to our origins and still baking Giulio's Italian Bread. Thank you Hibbing for one-hundred and three years.
To another century: Salute!
The Forti Family