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Cloud platform gives Hy-Vee direct contact with employees during pandemic

Chain becomes first grocery retailer to use Retail Zipline communications solution

Russell Redman

May 4, 2020

3 Min Read
Hy-Vee truck-distribution center
Hy-Vee said Retail Zipline provides a centralized way to communicate with its 85,000-plus employees companwide.Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee has deployed the Retail Zipline platform companywide to directly communicate with its 85,000-plus employees and better coordinate its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee said Monday its the first grocery chain to launch Zipline, described as a communication and execution tool for retailers. Using the cloud-based platform, Hy-Vee staff can access messages from company leaders and supervisors via a desktop or notebook computer or through a mobile app, which provides a centralized place to see everything that needs to be done in stores, the retailer explained.

For example, through Zipline, Hy-Vee can directly communicate and track execution of store protocols, health and safety guidelines, best practices and other tasks across its more than 265 stores in eight Midwestern states.

Hy-Vee noted that as coronavirus safety protocols shift daily, Zipline provides a consistent way to contact personnel chainwide. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began more than six weeks ago, the retailer has had to institute and expand cleaning practices throughtout its store base, modify store hours, implement social distancing measures, control shopper traffic, step up inventory replenishment and bolster employee safety, among myriad other efforts.

Related:Hy-Vee requiring employees to wear masks at work

Hy-Vee cashier-face mask-coronavirusLast week, Hy-Vee began requiring all store associates to wear face coverings. (Photo courtesy of Hy-Vee)

"All of our employees play a crucial role in how we are responding to COVID-19, which is why it’s imperative we invest in them and provide them with the necessary resources to do their jobs in the best way possible,” according to Jessica Ringena, senior vice president of finance and business strategy at Hy-Vee. “Retail Zipline allows our corporate team to communicate with every single employee to make sure everyone receives the same message and executes new protocols or receives the latest company news in a timely fashion.”

Hy-Vee added that it plans to use the Zipline platform beyond the COVID-19 crisis as its primary communication method to ensure all stores are meeting company standards.

In line with the new partnership, Zipline is supporting Hy-Vee’s food bank campaign, which aims to raise $1 million across its market area by May 31. For every new Hy-Vee platform user that signs up during that time period, Zipline will donate $1 to the campaign, up to $25,000. Hy-Vee said it will match Zipline’s contribution dollar for dollar.

Other retailers and brands leveraging Zipline include Lush Cosmetics, BevMo!, Cole Haan, The Lego Group, TOMS, Torrid and Lumber Liquidators. More than 6,000 stores and 40,000 people use the platform worldwide.

Related:Hy-Vee extends reserved shopping times for ‘high-risk’ customers to online

“Our goal at Retail Zipline is to ease communication challenges for brands so employees in the field are safe and empowered to do their best work, which has never been more critical,” stated Melissa Wong, CEO and co-founder of Retail Zipline, based in San Francisco. “We are proud to partner with a company that’s passionate about the well-being of its employees as well as its local communities, which is why we’re committed to supporting Hy-Vee’s fundraising initiative to provide food to those in need.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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