Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza delivered a Private Member’s Statement at the Manitoba Legislative Assembly last week, honouring local business Shindico’s 50th anniversary. Founded in Winnipeg by Portage la Prairie brothers Sandy and Robert Shindleman, the company began as Greenberg’s Groceteria, a small grocery store that prioritized community support over profit.
From groceries to growth
Bereza explains the Shindleman family was involved with agriculture and retail in Portage, and adds their motto today is, “Succeeding by helping others succeed.” He remembers visiting their Winnipeg office, describing it as “one of the happiest places I’ve ever seen” with “dogs running around” and employees smiling.
“Sandy and Robert’s dad, Eddie, never let anyone leave Greenberg’s without groceries, even if they couldn’t pay,” Bereza says. “I don’t think that store could have ever made a dime because they fed so many in need here.”
A legacy of lifting others
The Shindlemans’ philanthropy spans projects like the Aquatic Center and donations to health foundations. Bereza adds that their generosity extended to unconventional gestures, such as Sandy purchasing a horse statue to fundraise for the Health Sciences Centre.
“Manitoba is a better place because the Shindleman family is part of it,” Bereza continues.
The statement highlighted Shindico’s evolution from a Portage grocery staple to a Winnipeg-based real estate powerhouse, while underscoring the family’s unwavering commitment to community. Bereza urged listeners to “look back on those times and remember” the values that shaped their success.