Hy-Vee is a grocery store chain based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA with more than 300 stores in eight states. An employee-owned grocery store, Hy-Vee provides customers with pantry staples, fresh produce, dairy products, in-store bakeries and other food items. In addition, pharmacies, in-store cafes and grills, floral departments, grocery delivery, and even catering services for weddings and other events.
With the first Hy-Vee grocery store opening in 1930, the store functioned under a couple of names, including “Supply Store” or “Service Store” with the name of the town. As the company grew into more stores also in Missouri, it stayed in the family with Dwight Vredenburg as president. In the 1950s, a contest was held to name the stores, and they eventually went with Hy-Vee which was a combination of the last names of the two founders: Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg. Today, the chain has grown to more than 300 locations, with more than 50% of those being in the home state of Iowa.