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

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).

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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.” 

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