History
1990
It was in the 1990s that Hy-Vee diversified its operations through the development or purchase of several subsidiaries. Lomar Distributing, Inc. became a part of Hy-Vee in 1990 to provide specialty and gourmet imported items to both Hy-Vee stores and other businesses.
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| The Norfolk, Nebraska Number 2 (Taylor Avenue) Hy-Vee Gas operation. The first Hy-Vee Gas opened at Davenport, Iowa, in 1997. |
In 1991 Perishable Distributors of Iowa (PDI) acquired Sunrise Dairy, which supplied dairy products and ice cream to stores. In February 1992, D&D Foods of Omaha, Nebraska, was acquired as a supplier of fresh salads and dips to Hy-Vee stores and now includes meat products such as Hy-Vee’s popular chicken grillers in its product line. Also in 1992, Florist Distributing Inc. was acquired to provide fresh flowers, plants and decorative items.
The Meyocks Group advertising agency was acquired in 1994 to handle advertising, public relations and related services for Hy-Vee and outside clients; it was sold in 2008. Hy-Vee Weitz Construction, L.C. was formed in 1995 to serve as general contractor for Hy-Vee Inc.
In 1995 National Bank & Trust Company changed its name to Midwest Heritage Bank; the following year, the bank began operating branches in several Hy-Vee stores. Hy-Vee Bakery Manufacturing was established in 1996.
The Chariton Distribution Center opened its ice-making facility in 1990.
In 1991 Hy-Vee became the largest private employer in the state of Iowa, a distinction still held today. The third corporate logo, the white Hy-Vee name on a red background, appeared in 1993.
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| Hy-Vee’s CEO, president and chairman of the board Ron Pearson welcomed President Bill Clinton, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and American Red Cross officials to the Des Moines, Iowa, Number 5 (Army Post Road) store in 1993, as Hy-Vee distributed water, food and supplies to flood victims. |
In 1993 during heavy flooding in Iowa, Hy-Vee welcomed President Bill Clinton to the bottled water distribution site at the Des Moines, Iowa, Number 5 store.
In 1995 Hy-Vee Food Stores Inc. changed its name to Hy-Vee, Inc. That same year the corporate offices were relocated to West Des Moines, Iowa. The office also houses the Hy-Vee Conference Center.
In 1998 the corporation reached $3 billion in sales and the Employees’ Trust Fund was reorganized into the Employees’ Profit-Sharing Trust Fund and 401(k) Plan. The Drug Town chain expanded into Nebraska in 1998.
Film processing was introduced to the stores in 1990; the first Chinese Express department opened at the Independence, Missouri, store (on East 23rd Street) in 1992; and Hy-Vee Kitchen in 1996. The first Hy-Vee Gas operation opened in 1997 at Davenport, Iowa. A third private-label line of products called Grand Selections was introduced in 1999.
Customers were able to contact the company about products using a toll-free product phone line introduced in 1993. The Hy-Vee Web site debuted in 1996. Customers were introduced to online grocery shopping in 1998.
The Road of Gold program, which rewards Hy-Vee truck drivers with accident-free records, was introduced in 1995.
Consumer Reports ranked Hy-Vee the fifth-best supermarket chain in the nation (1997) in the magazine’s first such survey.
By the end of 1999 there were 208 stores and 43,000 employees.
