August 19, 2019 | News & Press Releases
MANKATO, Minn. (Aug. 19, 2019) — Many Hy-Vee stores pride themselves in offering “smiles beyond the aisles” – but for customers at the Riverfront Hy-Vee in Mankato, the helpful smile belonging to Jim Albright goes all the way across town.
Albright, the assistant meat manager at the Riverfront Hy-Vee in Mankato, has spent more than 40 years providing outstanding customer service in his department and throughout the store. That’s why fellow employees, family members, customers and Hy-Vee executives gathered at the Riverfront Hy-Vee store today to surprise Albright 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.
“Jim is someone who truly goes above and beyond for his customers,” wrote Hy-Vee Senior Vice President Mary Fuhrman in her nomination. “He takes the time to get to know his customers personally, and because of his long tenure with Hy-Vee he now knows generations of customers. Jim always puts others before himself and does everything with a Hy-Vee helpful smile.”
That helpful smile was on display one afternoon when Albright was doing his personal shopping, and got in line behind an elderly customer at the checkout. The customer was purchasing a large bag of softener salt, and as Albright talked with her, he learned that her husband had passed away and the customer was unsure how she was going to get the bag down to her basement and into her water softener. Without hesitation, Albright offered to help. He loaded the bag into his own truck, delivered it to the customer’s home, and loaded the salt into her water softener system in her basement.
“Jim consistently shows a passion for providing the best customer service that he can for his customers,” Riverfront Hy-Vee store director Chad Berndt wrote. “When Jim is not at the store, he’s still serving as a tremendous Hy-Vee representative in the community through his service with the volunteer fire department, the police reserve and as a Scout Master. This award could not have gone to anyone who would receive it with more pride than Jim.”
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 Albright 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.
“Jim truly lives out the things Hy-Vee stands for in everything he does — caring, helpful and dedicated service to our customers. His nominators pointed out time after time how he builds relationships with his customers and truly provides outstanding service to each and every customer,” Edeker said. “This award honors the best of the best from among our Hy-Vee family, and Jim is most deserving of this recognition.”
Albright 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.