Hy-Vee facts for kids
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Hy-Vee in La Crosse, Wisconsin, attached to Valley View Mall
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| Private, employee-owned | |
| Industry | Retail (grocery) |
| Founded | 1930, in Beaconsfield, Iowa |
| Founders | Charles Hyde Dwight Vredenburg |
| Headquarters | 5820 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa |
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Number of locations
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285+ (2022) |
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Area served
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Midwestern and Southern United States |
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Key people
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Randy Edeker (chairman) Jeremy Gosch (CEO & vice chairman) |
| Products | bakery, catering, sushi, Asian foods, hibachi, dairy, deli, frozen foods, organic foods, bulk foods, gas, general grocery, meat and seafood, pharmacy, liquor, general merchandise, lawn & garden, floristry |
| Services | Starbucks, Market Grille, Market Grille Express, HealthMarket, Health Clinics, Gas station/convenience stores, car wash, Hy-Chi, Hy-Vee Drive-In Theatre, Wahlburgers |
| Revenue |  $12.0 billion (2021) |
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Number of employees
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93,000 |
| Divisions | Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh |
Hy-Vee, Inc. is a large chain of grocery stores in the Midwestern and Southern parts of the United States. It's special because it's an employee-owned company, meaning its employees own a part of the business. Hy-Vee has over 280 stores in states like Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. They also have plans to open stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.
The company was started in 1930 by Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg in a small town called Beaconsfield, Iowa. Their first store was in a brick building known as the Beaconsfield Supply Store, which is now a historic landmark.
Many Hy-Vee stores are huge supermarkets. They have everything from fresh baked goods and deli items to flowers and pharmacies. You can also find places to eat inside, like coffee shops such as Starbucks and even full restaurants. Some stores have gas stations, fitness centers, and health clinics. The largest Hy-Vee store in the U.S. opened in June 2023 in Gretna, Nebraska, near Omaha. It's almost as big as three football fields!
Hy-Vee's famous slogan, "Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle," first appeared in a TV commercial in 1963. This slogan later became a catchy song.
Contents
Hy-Vee's Journey: A Look Back
How It All Started
Before Hy-Vee, one of the founders, David Vredenburg, had a partnership called Vredenburg & Lewis. They ran stores that were part of a company called General Supply Company, which was based in Lamoni, Iowa.
In 1921, Charles Hyde started working for one of these stores. A few years later, in 1924, Hyde left to open his own store in Cameron, Missouri.
In 1930, Vredenburg and Hyde teamed up to create their own partnership called Supply Stores. They opened their very first store together in Beaconsfield, Iowa.
Becoming Employee-Owned
In 1938, Hyde & Vredenburg, Inc. officially became a company. They had 15 stores across Iowa and Missouri. The company's main office was in Lamoni, Iowa. A key idea from the start was to let store managers make many decisions. This helped set the stage for employees to eventually own the company.
In 1945, the main office moved to Chariton, Iowa. Until 1952, most stores were still called "Supply Store" with the town's name in front.
The Name "Hy-Vee" is Born
The name "Hy-Vee" was chosen in 1952 after an employee contest! It's a mix of "Hyde" and "Vredenburg." The first store with the new name opened in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1953.
In 1956, Hy-Vee started selling its own brand of products. A year later, in 1957, they opened their first bakery inside a store in Iowa City, Iowa.
A big change happened in 1960 when the company became employee-owned through an Employees' Trust Fund. This means the employees became the owners of the company. In 1963, the company officially changed its name to Hy-Vee Food Stores, Inc.
Growing Across States
Hy-Vee continued to grow throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
- In 1969, Hy-Vee expanded into Minnesota.
- They also opened their first separate pharmacy store, called Drug Town, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1969. By the end of that year, Hy-Vee had 66 stores.
- During the 1970s and 1980s, Hy-Vee opened stores in South Dakota (1975), Nebraska (1977), Illinois (1979), and Kansas (1988).
- By the end of 1989, Hy-Vee had 172 stores in seven states.
- In 1995, the main office moved again to West Des Moines, Iowa.
A fun fact: Famous NFL quarterback Kurt Warner worked at a Hy-Vee store in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from 1994 to 1995 before he became a professional football player!
Focus on Healthy Living and Technology
In the early 2000s, Hy-Vee started focusing more on helping customers live healthy lives.
- They introduced "HealthMarket" products, which are natural and organic.
- They also started offering dietitians in stores to give advice.
- Online shopping became more popular in 2005, allowing customers to order holiday meals, flowers, and catering online.
- In 2005, the Drug Town pharmacies were renamed Hy-Vee Drugstores.
- In 2007, the very first Hy-Vee store in Beaconsfield, Iowa, was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical importance.
By 2009, Hy-Vee was one of the largest employee-owned companies in the U.S., with over 55,000 employees and 228 stores. They also opened their first store in Wisconsin that year.
New Programs and Store Concepts
In 2012, Hy-Vee launched its "Hy-Vee Fuel Saver" program. This program lets customers earn discounts on gas when they buy certain items in the store. Later, this program became "Hy-Vee Fuel Saver + Perks."
Hy-Vee also started adding full-service restaurants, like the Hy-Vee Market Grille, inside some of its stores. In 2015, they made online shopping available for all stores with their "Hy-Vee Aisles Online" website.
The company continued to try new things:
- In 2016, they started opening clothing sections in some larger stores.
- In 2017, Hy-Vee partnered with actor Mark Wahlberg for sports nutrition products and even opened Wahlburgers restaurants. However, in 2025, Hy-Vee announced they would change these Wahlburgers locations into Market Grille restaurants.
- In 2018, Hy-Vee opened its first standalone "HealthMarket" store, focusing only on health and wellness products.
- They also introduced "Hy-Vee Dollar Fresh" stores in smaller towns, offering fresh food and good prices.
- The first "Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh" convenience store opened in 2018. These smaller stores offer groceries, gas, and quick meal options.
Recent Developments (2020s)
In 2020, Hy-Vee bought several former Shopko and QuikTrip locations to turn them into Dollar Fresh or Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express stores. Also, in February 2020, most Hy-Vee grocery stores stopped being open 24 hours a day.
Hy-Vee has continued to innovate:
- In 2021, they opened new standalone liquor stores called Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits.
- They also opened "smart stores" in Grimes, Iowa, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. These stores have cool new technology like scan-and-go shopping, robot salad makers, and digital price tags. They even have unique sections like a DSW shoe department and a nail salon!
- In December 2021, Hy-Vee launched RedBox Rx, which offers online pharmacy services and home delivery of prescriptions.
- Hy-Vee announced big plans to expand into four new states: Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. They plan to open at least 21 new stores in these areas by 2025.
- In April 2024, Hy-Vee announced they bought Strack & Van Til stores in northwest Indiana, adding 22 new locations.
Company Leadership
Hy-Vee has had five presidents and four CEOs since it started.
- Dwight Vredenburg: He was the first president, starting in 1938 at just 23 years old. He served for 45 years!
- Ron Pearson: He became president in 1983 and CEO in 1989. During his time, Hy-Vee added gas stations, dry cleaning, and online shopping.
- Ric Jurgens: He was president from 2001 and CEO from 2003. He focused on healthy living, adding pharmacies, clinics, and dietitians to stores.
- Randy Edeker: He became president in 2009 and CEO in 2012. Under his leadership, many stores were updated, the Fuel Saver program started, and online shopping grew. He stepped down as CEO in July 2022 but remained chairman.
- Jeremy Gosch: He became president in 2021 and co-CEO in 2021, then sole CEO in 2023. He became chairman of the board in 2024.
Hy-Vee's Community Involvement
Sports Sponsorships
Hy-Vee is a big supporter of sports, especially in the Midwest.
- They have sponsored women's half marathons in cities like Kansas City and Des Moines.
- They also sponsor college sports, including the "Hy-Vee Heroes Game" for the Iowa–Nebraska football rivalry. Hy-Vee supports over 38 colleges and universities in its region.
- In motorsports, Hy-Vee has sponsored cars in the IndyCar Series and is a sponsor for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway.
- Hy-Vee has been an official grocery store partner for many professional sports teams, including the Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals, the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, the NHL's Minnesota Wild, and the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.
Venue Naming Rights
Hy-Vee has also put its name on some important buildings:
- In 2001, they bought the naming rights for an exhibition hall at the Iowa Events Center, which is now called Hy-Vee Hall.
- In 2018, Hy-Vee purchased the naming rights for Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. This building is now called Hy-Vee Arena and is a sports facility for adults and kids.
Hy-Vee's Other Businesses
Hy-Vee owns several other companies that help its stores run smoothly. These are called subsidiaries:
- Midwest Heritage Bank, FSB: A bank with locations in Iowa. It's one of the few banks owned by a retail company.
- Lomar Distributing, Inc.: A company that distributes special foods.
- Perishable Distributors of Iowa, Ltd.: This company distributes fresh meat, seafood, cheese, and dairy products.
- D & D Foods, Inc.: A supplier of freshly made salads and other prepared meals.
- Florist Distributing, Inc.: A company that distributes flowers and plants.
- Hy-Vee Construction, L.C.: A construction company that builds and renovates Hy-Vee stores.
- A+ Communications: This company handles surveillance, security systems, and home audio for Hy-Vee.
- Amber Pharmacy: A specialty pharmacy that Hy-Vee fully purchased in 2014.
- Vivid Clear Rx: A company that helps manage prescription benefits.
- Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits: Hy-Vee's standalone liquor stores.
- Dollar Fresh Market: The brand for Hy-Vee's smaller-format stores in various communities.
