The ingredients for a magical holiday season are a heaping spoonful of amazing people, a dash of delicious food and drink, and a generous helping of heartwarming charm. Add a hearty dose of goodwill and the giving spirit and you’ve got yourself a pretty joyful celebration. As you set out to gather all the Yuletide necessities (and then some!), it’s nice to know that when you’re filling up your cart, you’re fueling a mission that supports community, connection, and kindness. That’s where Mackenthun’s Fine Foods comes in. Yes, all the components that create a wondrous season of cheer are most definitely present at this vibrant and thoughtfully curated store during this fun and festive time – but it doesn’t end when the last sugar cookie is eaten. They’re lovingly poured into every day of the year.
In the spirit of gathering, Christine Fenner sat down with Kim Mackenthun, Jaime Mackenthun, and Jessa Theis to discuss their longstanding presence in the community, and how a shared belief in being only as strong as our community is one of their biggest motivators.
Background & Legacy
Mackenthun’s mission started in the early 1900s in Plato, Minnesota, and it holds true to this day. “My Grandpa made sure that no family in Waconia went hungry,” Kim shares. This important goal hasn’t simply been passed down from generation to generation, it’s flourished and gained momentum, and the lucky recipients? The community. Jessa explains, “We don’t do it for the number, we do it for the community. We don’t hang our hats on quantity, we support the community that supports us.”
Community Impact
“The Mackenthun family truly has a heart for giving and they don’t do it for praise, they do it because it’s who they are,” Christine says.” They support unending organizations throughout the community… the food shelves, the arts, schools, athletic teams, 4H, churches, hospitals, and more. Their two biggest events throughout the year are the Charity Golf Event and Bag Hunger Campaign which raise substantial funds for the food shelves in Waconia, Norwood Young America, and Cologne. And it doesn’t stop there, 52 weeks out of the year, they donate unsold items to the local food shelf.” Though their actions aren’t carried out for recognition, they are being recognized, and rightfully so. This year they were awarded the CFCC (Community Foundation for Carver County) Award in Philanthropy, which recognizes those in the community who have made meaningful contributions to the field of philanthropy.
Partnering with local growers and livestock producers is also a cornerstone of their values-not only to support their neighbors but to provide transparency to customers about where their food comes from. And people are taking notice-in the last 12 years they have been named Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Grocers Association. This honor is given to retailers who demonstrate excellence in marketing locally grown and produced products. “In addition to all the produce staples like tomatoes, sweet corn, and cabbage, we get organic apples from a local orchard and we even have local farmers growing dill and rhubarb just for us. Those little niche things are what sets us apart from big-box corporate stores,” says Kim.
A stop at Mackenthun’s isn’t all bourbon-infused or wine and cheese brats (indeed, they also partner with the local distillery, brewery, and wineries and without question, they’re delicious) but it’s also fun. You can see the community come to life and grow right outside their doors in the summer sun with the Mack Shack and Rib Fest and Family Day. Or in the chillier months inside their welcoming space with special happenings like Cookies with Santa (don’t forget your letter to the Big Guy because there’s a mailbox at the service counter providing a direct route!) coloring contests, trick or treating and so much more. If there’s a reason to celebrate and organize fellowship in the community, you can pretty much bet that Mackenthun’s has a day for it.
And speaking of community engagement, as with so many other key ideals, the importance of it runs deep with their participation in local non-profit organizations like the Waconia Chamber of Commerce and Backyard Wishes. Kim, Jaime, and Jessa have all served terms on the Chamber Board. Jaime is currently serving, and Kim is serving on the Chamber Tourism Board. Fun fact: Kim’s dad was a charter member. And if you’ve ever wondered how the July 4th fireworks in Waconia came to be, you can ask Kim because he was there from the very start.
Customer Relationships
It’s not every day that you find small-town charm paired with an elevated shopping experience at your local grocery store, but at Mackenthun’s, that’s exactly what you get. “It all comes down to our employees, Jaime explains. They want to take care of the customers. We are who we are because of our employees.” Jessa adds, “We encourage our employees to take care of the customer right away, which keeps them coming back.” Between their three stores, Mackenthun’s employs 475 people, some of who are boomerang employees.” We’ve had people leave for different opportunities; to later decide they want to come back here to work,” adds Kim.
Personal Touch
The community is the fortunate beneficiaries of over a century of generosity and support, but they’re not the only ones who feel that warmth in their hearts. “When I’m out working the Christmas tree lot, so many customers will tell me that they used to buy their tree from my Dad, “Jaime shares. Jessa gets weekly calls from out-of-towners who ask for Mackenthun’s to open where they live. “It’s so heartwarming.” Also heartwarming is the confidence in knowing that this mainstay institution will continue to do what they do best, lead by example, and they’ll do so into the next 100 years. And those who get to experience it can count themselves among the lucky ones.
