If we're talking IT jobs, there are only a handful of jobs in the store that would come close to the same pay. In a large store, you're probably talking 2 management positions and 3 department heads. None of those 5 positions they would give to someone without a lot of experience in the field I.E. Deli Manager. After those 5 positions, there is a serious drop in pay. So for example, the person running the meat/cheese island probably makes a third as much as the meat manager.
In summary, this wasn't an honest offer by Hy-Vee. They knew no one with a brain would go from working corporate to working in the stores. The CEO thought he was being cute with the whole "We don't want people that are not willing to work in the stores" but no one plays into that **** since like 1/2 the state has worked at Hy-Vee at some point. Hy-Vee use to be 10x the company it is right now but even back then, they were not an easy company to work for. A lot was expected out of people making close to minimum wage but that always made me appreciate never having to work retail again.