“A helpful smile in every aisle,” is the slogan for this company, expressing the foundation of their corporate philosophy. According to their website, Hy-Vee.com, the name Hy-Vee has become synonymous with quality products, low prices, and superior customer service.

About Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee started in Beaconsfield, Iowa, as a small general retailer. Ever since its beginning, Hy-Vee has been an employee owned corporation. Profits are distributed to employees through the Hy-Vee and Affiliates Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan. This is in addition to bonuses, commissions, and incentive programs. In this way, Hy-Vee inspires each employee to work toward guiding the company to profitability.

Hy-Vee provides its consumers with information on nutrition, diet, and wellness. The stores each have a HealthMarket department, which features organic and natural products, as well as providing consulting services of an on-site dietitian. It also offers employee and consumer wellness programs. At Hy-Vee’s corporate office, located in West Des Moines, Iowa, there is a 12,000-square-foot center for continuing education programs, training and meetings.

Hy-Vee is rated among the top 25 grocery chains, and it is among the top 50 privately held companies in the United States. Supermarket News has given Hy-Vee a Whole Health Enterprise Award for its leadership in creating programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle. The success of this company is a result of hard work and a clear vision.

Stats

Annual Sales – By the end of the fiscal year 2010 (the most current information available), the company reached $6.4 billion in total sales.

Number of Employees – the company employs more than 56,000 people.

States Serviced – Hy-Vee currently operates 248 stores in seven U.S. states. They are:

  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • South Dakota

Affiliates

Hy-Vee has established a distribution system that secures the highest quality merchandise and ensures that it is transported quickly and efficiently. In order to accomplish this, Hy-Vee has acquired and developed several companies to help in distribution and other functions. They are:

  • D&D Foods, Inc.
  • Florist Distributing, Inc.
  • Hy-Vee Weitz Construction
  • Lomar Distributing, Inc.
  • Midwest Heritage Bank, FSB
  • Perishable Distributors of Iowa, LTD

Corporate Responsibility

One of Hy-Vee’s main focus is sustainability. You will often see “green” products on Hy-Vee’s shelves, but you don’t see what is taking place in the background. Hy-Vee has a sustainability mission. What the company is currently doing along this line are:

Store Construction and Design – Concrete floors are used to reduce the reliance on chemicals used to clean floor coverings. Recycled materials are used in the construction of their buildings whenever possible. They use Low-E windows and a highly reflective roof to reduce the energy load in the summer time. The landscaping, toilets, and faucets are all set up to reduce water consumption. The corporation has recently received their first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

Banners: Hy-Vee, D&D Foods, Inc., Florist Distributing, Inc., Hy-Vee Weitz Construction, Lomar Distributing, Inc., Midwest Heritage Bank, FSB, Perishable Distributors of Iowa, LTD