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Hy-Vee to hire 10,000 workers to prepare for holiday rush

Labor needs rise as COVID-19 crisis changes shopping environment

Russell Redman

November 18, 2020

2 Min Read
HyVee-worker_face_mask-coronavirus.jpg
Hy-Vee said the new jobs spam its largest markets and include full- and part-time positions ranging from online personal shoppers and cashiers to foodservice clerks, stock associates and other roles.Hy-Vee

Midwestern grocer Hy-Vee plans to hire 10,000 new employees as it readies for the holiday shopping season and continues to adjust to the new retail environment under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hy-Vee said Wednesday that the new jobs include full- and part-time temporary and permanent positions, ranging from online personal shoppers and cashiers to foodservice clerks and stock associates, among other roles. The openings span stores and facilities in the West Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer’s eight-state trade area, including its distribution centers in Chariton and Cherokee, Iowa.

“Hy-Vee is adapting to meet the evolving needs of its customers who plan to shop differently this holiday season and beyond,” Hy-Vee stated, alluding to increased online ordering, such as for pickup or delivery. “New employees are also needed as the company continues to expand and open new stores.”

Areas where Hy-Vee aims to hire extra hands include some of its largest markets, such as Des Moines (1,500 jobs); Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb. (1,075 jobs); Minneapolis (1,035 jobs); Quad Cities, Iowa/Illinois (670 jobs); Lincoln, Neb. (600 jobs); Sioux Falls, S.D. (525 jobs); Kansas City, Mo. (445 jobs); Iowa City (350 jobs); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (190 jobs); Madison, Wis. (150 jobs); Sioux City, Iowa (130 jobs); and Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa (65 jobs).

Related:Hy-Vee adds more drive-up COVID-19 test sites

Hy-Vee said prospective new employees include people who may have temporarily lost their job amid the pandemic, are out of school, want to make extra money or “simply want to help during this time.” 

Overall, Hy-Vee operates more than 275 food and drug stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

This year, U.S. consumers have started their holiday shopping early, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). That helped lift retail sales rose for the sixth straight month in October, up 10.6% year over year, NRF reported yesterday. 

“Consumers have proven their resilience and willingness to spend as we head into the heart of the holiday season, and retailers continue to demonstrate their commitment and ability to ensure safe shopping environments for their customers and their associates, with deep discounts, robust inventory and great experiences whether in store or online,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement.

NRF noted its latest research shows that 42% of consumers started their holiday shopping early this year and 59% had done so by early November.

“Early holiday shopping appears to have supported October’s increase in sales,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz observed. “The rise in COVID-19 cases continues to be a factor that weighs on consumer perceptions, sentiment and spending, and there could be retrenchment if we cannot thwart this latest wave. Nonetheless, retailers are well-prepared to safely fulfill holiday shopping lists, and the October results suggest so far, so good.” 

Related:Hy-Vee introduces automated shopping cart-sanitizing system

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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