Hy-Vee facts for kids
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A Hy-Vee store in La Crosse, Wisconsin
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| Private | |
| Industry | Retail (grocery) |
| Founded | 1930 in Beaconsfield, Iowa |
| Founders | Charles Hyde David 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 |
| 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 has over 280 stores in states like Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Hy-Vee is special because it is an employee-owned company. This means that the employees themselves own a part of the company.
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 small brick building known as the Beaconsfield Supply Store, which is now a historic landmark.
Many Hy-Vee stores are very big and offer a lot more than just groceries. They often have bakeries, deli counters, flower shops, places to eat, pharmacies, and even health clinics. Some stores also have gas stations, fitness centers, and restaurants like Wahlburgers. The largest Hy-Vee store opened in June 2023 in Gretna, Nebraska, and it's huge!
Hy-Vee's famous advertising slogan is "Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle." This slogan was first used in a TV commercial in 1963 and later became a catchy song.
The Story of Hy-Vee
How it All Began
Before Hy-Vee, David Vredenburg was part of a company called General Supply Company, which ran stores starting in 1917. Charles Hyde began working for one of these stores in 1921.
In 1924, Charles Hyde left to start his own store. Then, in 1930, Hyde and Vredenburg teamed up to open their first store together in Beaconsfield, Iowa. They called their partnership "Supply Stores."
During the Great Depression, the General Supply Company closed down. Vredenburg bought many of its remaining stores. For a short time in 1935, Hyde and Vredenburg's partnership split up because of a new tax law in Iowa, but they soon got back together.
In 1938, their company officially became "Hyde & Vredenburg, Inc." They had 15 stores in Iowa and Missouri. The company's main office was in Lamoni, Iowa. A key idea for their new company was to let store managers make many decisions, which helped lead to the company being employee-owned later on.
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 Hy-Vee Name and Growth (1950s-1960s)
The name "Hy-Vee" was chosen in 1952 from an employee contest. It's a mix of "Hyde" and "Vredenburg." The first store with the Hy-Vee name opened in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1953.
In 1956, Hy-Vee started selling its own brand of products. In 1957, they opened their first bakery inside a store in Iowa City, Iowa.
A big change happened in 1960 when the company became owned by its employees through a special fund. In 1963, the famous slogan "Where There's a Helpful Smile in Every Aisle" was first used in a TV commercial. That same year, the company's name officially became "Hy-Vee Food Stores, Inc."
Hy-Vee grew into Minnesota in 1969 by buying another store chain. They also opened their first separate pharmacy store, called Drug Town, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. By the end of 1969, Hy-Vee had 66 stores.
Expanding Across States (1970s-1990s)
Hy-Vee kept growing in the 1970s and 1980s, opening stores in South Dakota (1975), Nebraska (1977), Illinois (1979), and Kansas (1988). In 1975, their 100th store opened in Keokuk, Iowa. This store was also the first to use electronic cash registers. By 1989, Hy-Vee had 172 stores in seven states.
In 1994, Hy-Vee updated its logo to the one you see today. In 1995, the main office moved again to West Des Moines, Iowa, and the company name was shortened to "Hy-Vee, Inc." The company still has large distribution centers in Chariton and Cherokee, Iowa, where products are sent out to stores.
Did you know that 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 Health and Technology (2000s)
As the new century began, Hy-Vee started to focus more on helping customers live healthy lives. They launched "HealthMarket" products in 2001, which are natural and organic foods. They also began offering dietitians in their stores to give health advice.
Hy-Vee also started offering more foods from different cultures as the Midwest became more diverse. Online shopping became easier in 2005 with a new website where customers could order special meals, flowers, and catering.
In 2003, Hy-Vee was named "Retailer of the Year" by Progressive Grocer magazine. In 2005, the Drug Town pharmacies were renamed Hy-Vee Drugstores. That same year, Hy-Vee celebrated its 75th anniversary. In 2007, the very first Hy-Vee store in Beaconsfield, Iowa, was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
By 2009, Hy-Vee had sales of over $6.3 billion and was one of the largest employee-owned companies in the U.S. They had over 55,000 employees and 228 stores. In 2009, Hy-Vee opened its first store in Madison, Wisconsin, expanding to an eighth state.
New Services and Expansion (2010s)
In 2012, Hy-Vee launched its "Hy-Vee Fuel Saver" program. This program lets customers earn discounts on gas at Hy-Vee gas stations and other places when they buy certain items in the store. Later that year, Hy-Vee began adding full-service restaurants called "Hy-Vee Market Grille" to some of its stores.
In 2015, Hy-Vee made online shopping available at all its stores with "Hy-Vee Aisles Online." This made it even easier for customers to shop from home.
Hy-Vee also started trying out new ideas. In 2016, they opened small clothing sections in some larger stores. In 2017, they partnered with actor Mark Wahlberg to sell his sports nutrition products and even became a franchisee for his "Wahlburgers" restaurants. The first Wahlburgers opened in the Mall of America in 2018.
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, offering quick groceries, gas, and ready-to-eat meals.
Recent Developments (2020s)
In 2020, Hy-Vee bought six former Shopko store locations in Iowa to turn them into Dollar Fresh stores. Also in 2020, most Hy-Vee grocery stores stopped being open 24 hours a day. They now close between midnight and 5 a.m.
Hy-Vee also acquired some convenience stores in the Des Moines area and reopened them as "Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express."
In 2021, Hy-Vee opened new standalone liquor stores called "Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits." They also opened a large "smart store" in Grimes, Iowa, which has new technology like scan-and-go shopping, robot salad makers, and digital shelf labels. This store also has unique features like a cigar room and a nail salon.
In December 2021, Hy-Vee announced 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. They also plan to build a new distribution center in Nashville, Tennessee, to support these new stores.
In 2022, Hy-Vee opened its second store in Springfield, Missouri, and its first store in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
In April 2024, Hy-Vee announced it was buying Strack & Van Til stores, adding 22 locations in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago suburbs. These stores will keep their own names and branding but will be part of the Hy-Vee family.
Hy-Vee Facts and Figures
Hy-Vee often builds separate buildings for its gas stations or liquor stores to meet legal rules or offer better service. For example, some liquor stores are in completely separate buildings.
Hy-Vee is recognized as one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States. Forbes magazine has also listed Hy-Vee as one of the largest privately owned companies in the country. They have won many awards for being a great employer and a top grocery retailer.
As of 2021, Hy-Vee has over 91,000 employees and 285 stores. Their yearly sales are more than $12 billion.
Leaders of Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee has had five presidents and four CEOs in its long history:
- Dwight Vredenburg: Son of founder David Vredenburg, he became the first president at just 23 years old and served for 45 years.
- Ron Pearson: During his time, Hy-Vee added gas stations, dry cleaning, takeout meals, and started online shopping.
- Ric Jurgens: Under his leadership, Hy-Vee focused on healthy living, adding pharmacies, clinics, dietitians, and health food sections to stores.
- Randy Edeker: He oversaw many store renovations, started the Hy-Vee Fuel Saver program, and greatly expanded online shopping. He is currently the Chairman of the Board.
- Jeremy Gosch: He became President in 2021 and also serves as CEO.
Hy-Vee Sponsorships
Hy-Vee is a big supporter of many events, especially sports.
In 2018, Hy-Vee bought the naming rights to the famous Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. It is now called Hy-Vee Arena and is used for adult and youth sports.
Since 2020, Hy-Vee has sponsored cars in the IndyCar Series, a type of car racing. They are a main sponsor for the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda car.
Hy-Vee also has naming rights for the exhibition hall at the Iowa Events Center, which is called Hy-Vee Hall.
They are a major sponsor for several big sporting events:
- The football game between Iowa and Nebraska is officially called the Hy-Vee Heroes Game.
- The Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend is a three-day racing event at Iowa Speedway with two main races and concerts.
- The Hy-Vee Classic was an annual basketball event in Des Moines featuring Iowa's four main college basketball teams.
- The Drake Relays, a famous athletics event at Drake University.
Hy-Vee also supports cultural events in the Des Moines area, like the 80/35 Music Festival and the Des Moines Arts Festival.
Hy-Vee has partnerships with many professional sports teams, including:
- The NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves
- The WNBA's Minnesota Lynx
- The NHL's Minnesota Wild
- The NFL's Minnesota Vikings
- The NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
They also sponsor 38 colleges and universities across the states where they have stores.
Hy-Vee Related Companies
Over the years, Hy-Vee has bought several companies that help support its stores. These are called subsidiaries:
- Midwest Heritage Bank, FSB: A bank that Hy-Vee purchased in 1963. It's unique because it's one of the only banks in the U.S. 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 items.
- D & D Foods, Inc.: A supplier of freshly made salads, dips, and other food items.
- 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.
- Amber Pharmacy: A 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 store brand.
- Dollar Fresh Market: A store concept for smaller communities.
Images for kids
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A Hy-Vee Store in Dubuque, Iowa.
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The current largest Hy-Vee store in Gretna, Nebraska. Opened on June 13, 2023.
