I work for Hy-Vee and have for over 20 years, all at the same location. Several years ago, when it was announced they were going to construct Market Grille restaurant's in a large number of stores, I myself, and everyone else, basically said " oh he'll no!"....anyone who has been in the grocery business any length of time knows your everyday customer is NOT going to patronize a high end restaurant at the same location they buy their regular groceries.
I see a lot of bad comments here about the current CEO, a.k.a czar Randy, and yes we are in a different marketing era now, than we were in the Pearson and Jurgens years, but no question about it, Randy, and I'm going to include the entire current board, have made some incredibly bad decisions. Bad decisions that have sent the entire company into a train wreck.
I thought they could pull it out as recent as 2017, but it just keeps getting worse, and now is compounding. They are not being up front with the employees who have helped make Hy-Vee what it is today....well, at least to about 2015. All that high talk about employee owned. ...pfffttt...take that up to your directors office and see how far it gets you.
Furthermore, I just spent 2-3 hours going around to all other grocery stores in my town checking on a big list of items we are out of stock on...items from the big boys Kraft-Heinz, Procter & Gamble, Nestle, etc.
and in nearly every instance, they had the product, and we dont...so what does that indicate?
Hy-Vee is not paying their bills, they are in deep financial doo-doo. Everyone is asking, how did this happen?? 20 years ago, Hy-vee was the premier place to work, they were known as a cash rich company. The best place to work in any town they were in. But in the true corporate American way, corporate greed once again is going to send a once prosperous and highly respected company, straight into bankruptcy. Would not at all be surprised if it's not announced within a week