People love to shop at places where they feel respected and welcome, and they especially like it when they know the service they're going to get will always exceed their expectations. After all, these are the things that build customer loyalty, one of the most important factors in sustaining a business. Hy-Vee is one such store that people actually like going to. The friendly staff, rich history, and unchanging values help to create a safe haven in our constantly changing world.

The Hy-Vee story is one that begins with a general store in Iowa. Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg founded this quaint little shop in 1930 with the dream of supplying people with basic life necessities. Today that simple general store is known as Hy-Vee, a 200 store grocery chain that can be found all over the Midwest. Hy-Vee is owned by 49,000 employees who work relentlessly to make sure that customers always receive great service and even better prices. This is a company that's staying true to their slogan of "A Helpful Smile In Every Aisle."

The corporate office is still located in Iowa, and it includes a 30,000 square foot meeting center, training facilities, and continuing education resources. Their sales of nearly $5 billion puts them in the top 15 supermarkets in the country, and they've won plenty of customer service awards. For example, in a Consumer Reports survey readers ranked Hy-Vee in the top five nationwide supermarket chains for price, service, and customer satisfaction. The Greater Iowa Better Business Bureau has recognized them with the Integrity Award, and they were also finalists for the Torch Award for Marketplace Integrity. The well known accolades Hy-Vee has received is just one of the reasons people have trusted them for over 75 years.

As unexciting and run of the mill as supermarket chains can be, Hy-Vee is still able to create a worthwhile experience that draws customers back time and time again. The Hy-Vee story is a perfect example of time well spent – for customers as well as employees.