Hy-Vee to Close Four Fulfillment Centers, Move Online Orders Back to Individual Stores

Supermarket chain Hy-Vee announced this week it was closing its four dedicated online orders fulfillment centers, opting instead to move the task of filling online orders back to individual stores.

“We are listening to our customers and they are wanting a full assortment of products, personalized shoppers and same-day pick up at the store, which we are unable to fully provide when we process orders at a fulfillment center,” spokesperson Christina Gayman said in media reports. “Fulfillment center operations will be transferred to our retail stores in the market later this month – that means customers’ orders will once again be fulfilled at their local Hy-Vee store.”

Hy-Vee’s four fulfillment centers are located in Kansas City, MO; Des Moines, IA; Omaha, NE; and Eagan, MN. Local news reports in some of the cities indicate the closures would affect about 600 jobs in Kansas City and 300 jobs in Eagan. The company has indicated it is working with a number of employees on continued employment.

Hy-Vee is based in West Des Moines, IA, and operates more than 260 stores in the Midwest.