August 23, 2019 | News & Press Releases
LAMONI, Iowa (Aug. 23, 2019) — No matter whether it’s hot dogs or hot rods, customers in Lamoni know that they’ll always get the answers they need when they come into the Lamoni Hy-Vee and speak with Jeff Waldeier.
Waldeier, the meat manager at the Lamoni Hy-Vee, has been dedicated to taking care of Hy-Vee customers for 41 years. While his title is “meat manager,” he takes his role far beyond the meat department to make sure that his customers always find the products and the answers they need.
“Jeff’s opinion is trusted throughout the community, and our customers know if it has to do with Hy-Vee’s meat products or his personal hobby of hot rods, he’s the man to ask,” former Lamoni Hy-Vee Store Director Nicole Bryant wrote in her nomination. “The trust he’s built over the years is so valuable in a smaller community like Lamoni, and it cannot be bought. It has to be earned, and Jeff has earned it.”
Waldeier’s commitment to his customers and his store is why fellow employees, family members, customers and Hy-Vee executives gathered at the Lamoni Hy-Vee store today to surprise Waldeier with the Legendary Customer Service Award. The award recognizes exemplary achievement in providing service that exceeds customers’ expectations. Only 11 winners are selected each year from among more than 80,000 Hy-Vee employees across eight states.
“Jeff may be the meat manager, but that doesn’t stop him from looking out for the rest of the store,” Bryant wrote. “He spends time helping train our new part-time employees in our grocery operations, helps keep our equipment in good condition, and sets the bar for customer service for other departments. He always has our customers’ and company’s best interests at heart and would do anything for our customers.”
Candidates are nominated for the Legendary Customer Service Award by their co-workers, and winners are selected by a panel of Hy-Vee’s top officers. Nominations are evaluated on the employee’s overall contributions to the company in nine areas: passion for customer service, attitude, initiative, teamwork, problem-solving skills, dedication to Hy-Vee fundamentals, communication skills, professional image and self-confidence.
Hy-Vee’s Chairman, CEO and President Randy Edeker said Waldeier demonstrates exactly the type of commitment to customers that Hy-Vee leaders had in mind when the Legendary Customer Service Award was established in 2006.
“Jeff lives out the things Hy-Vee stands for in everything he does — caring, helpful and dedicated service to our customers. His nominations pointed to his consistent commitment to his customers, his co-workers and his community. He goes above and beyond with every customer interaction, and keeps his customers coming back,” Edeker said. “This award honors the best of the best from among our Hy-Vee family, and Jeff is most deserving of this recognition.”
Waldeier and the other 2019 recipients of the Legendary Customer Service Award will be inducted into Hy-Vee’s Customer Service Hall of Fame and receive a coveted Legendary Customer Service name badge and a custom-designed ring to commemorate the honor. They will be guests of honor at Hy-Vee’s service award dinners in October, which honor employees for longevity of service. They also will be recognized at Hy-Vee’s annual stockholders’ meeting in December, where they will receive a travel voucher good for a trip to a destination of their choice. And finally, their photos will be prominently featured on the side of Hy-Vee trucks, showcasing their helpful smiles to millions of travelers across the Midwest.
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Hy-Vee Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 260 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 80,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.