Hy-Vee's weirdest business decision yet?

dmclone

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I always get confused on the Fareway having the best meat. I like that they have a big counter and people working behind it, but is it safe to assume that the USDA Prime and USDA Choice you buy at Hy-Vee is the same quality as Safeway that's marked the same? When Fareway opens a box on it that says IBP USDA Choice or higher, is there any difference between Hy-Vee or Fareway? I've bought a lot of different meat cuts from both places over the years, and I struggle to find the difference.
 

KnappShack

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Just got back from our local grocery store.

Maybe I've mentioned this before, but they have a bar and a little gambling area.

I am always surprised at how many people are boozing and playing slots before noon....at a grocery store.

Wild
 
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keepngoal

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People still buy their spices?


/cf-s
 

alarson

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I always get confused on the Fareway having the best meat. I like that they have a big counter and people working behind it, but is it safe to assume that the USDA Prime and USDA Choice you buy at Hy-Vee is the same quality as Safeway that's marked the same? When Fareway opens a box on it that says IBP USDA Choice or higher, is there any difference between Hy-Vee or Fareway? I've bought a lot of different meat cuts from both places over the years, and I struggle to find the difference.

yeah, i remember hearing they have the same distributors providing the meat at one point.

about the only difference from there that I can imagine would be the quality of cuts for the stuff they cut in house and the rate at which meat is moving through their store for freshness (one thing ive found isn't quite as good for other products in fareway that are more likely to be closer to their sell by date). But someone who has actually worked in a meat department would probably know more
 

AllInForISU

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I always get confused on the Fareway having the best meat. I like that they have a big counter and people working behind it, but is it safe to assume that the USDA Prime and USDA Choice you buy at Hy-Vee is the same quality as Safeway that's marked the same? When Fareway opens a box on it that says IBP USDA Choice or higher, is there any difference between Hy-Vee or Fareway? I've bought a lot of different meat cuts from both places over the years, and I struggle to find the difference.

From their website:

In addition to the USDA standards, we make sure to adhere to our strict principles of the Fareway Meat Counter:

  • Never Stale. We cut all our meat daily to ensure you get the exact cut and quality you are looking for when you approach the counter.
  • Never Gassed. While other stores may treat their meats with chemicals to keep old meats looking fresh, we will never fake the quality of our meats ensuring you get the freshness you’re looking for in every bite.
  • Never Injected. Some stores inject water solutions into cuts of meat to add weight and plumpness. At the Fareway counter, the cut of meat you see under the glass is the same cut you’ll see on your plate or your bun.
  • Always Natural. Fareway never adds preservatives to our meat. We know USDA choice beef and all natural pork and chicken is the quality you expect as Fareway shoppers.
 

dirtyninety

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You could tell me the Feed-the-World Hyvee CEO signed Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood to market diet foods and a new Feed-the-World campaign, and I would believe it.
 

FarmerCy1

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I always get confused on the Fareway having the best meat. I like that they have a big counter and people working behind it, but is it safe to assume that the USDA Prime and USDA Choice you buy at Hy-Vee is the same quality as Safeway that's marked the same? When Fareway opens a box on it that says IBP USDA Choice or higher, is there any difference between Hy-Vee or Fareway? I've bought a lot of different meat cuts from both places over the years, and I struggle to find the difference.
I know they buy from different packers- IBP/ Tyson supplies HyVee, Greater Omaha Packers supplies Fareway typically. But typically Choice is Choice and Prime is Prime
 
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RustShack

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I always get confused on the Fareway having the best meat. I like that they have a big counter and people working behind it, but is it safe to assume that the USDA Prime and USDA Choice you buy at Hy-Vee is the same quality as Safeway that's marked the same? When Fareway opens a box on it that says IBP USDA Choice or higher, is there any difference between Hy-Vee or Fareway? I've bought a lot of different meat cuts from both places over the years, and I struggle to find the difference.
It’s mostly just nostalgia. Fareway used to have better meat several years ago, now there isn’t a difference.
 

BillBrasky4Cy

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I forgot the carts had numbers and you could pull your car up and they would load it in for you.

Oh man when I worked there in High School there were two jobs nobody wanted to do. 1.) the drive up and 2.) emptying cans at customer service.
 

BillBrasky4Cy

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Also, I have to say that it drives Mrs. Velo batshit crazy when we go in there all hours of the day and they have pallets in the aisles stocking. I guess they don't stock overnight anymore because it is clearly better to block the aisles stocking on Sunday morning when people are coming in after church.

This place is turning Mrs. Velo who was a Hy-Vee groupie who worked there in high school and college into a Hy-Vee hater. Don't get her started on "A helpful smile in every aisle". She blew a gasket once early on after this store opened and we got a disinterested cashier. Walking out I said to her, "Helpful smile, my ass." She went nuclear. So funny.

They aren't open 24 hours anymore so they don't have that third shift stocking crew. Clutter in the aisle is one thing but nothing pisses me off more than when managers are just standing around in an aisle talking. None of that would have flown when I worked there in the late 90's.
 

ackatch

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Oh man when I worked there in High School there were two jobs nobody wanted to do. 1.) the drive up and 2.) emptying cans at customer service.
I worked at Dahl's in High school and can agree - Drive-up was the worst. Once I was 16 I started working in the diary section but would also have to take care of the can/bottle room (which I still have some PTSD on).

The worst was when it was snowing out and the lot hadn't been plowed yet and we'd offer drive-up and people would just say "nah i'll take them out myself and save you having to stand outside"... Just for me to then have to go out and get the carts and try to push them back in through the snow.
 
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BillBrasky4Cy

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Fareway isn't that cheap, pretty comparable to Hy-Vee. Aldi and Walmart are the cheaper options.

I would wager that Fareway's everyday shelf price is lower than HyVee's. HyVee will smoke Fareway with their Hot Deals though.
 

BillBrasky4Cy

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I worked at Dahl's in High school and can agree - Drive-up was the worst. Once I was 16 I started working in the diary section but would also have to take care of the can/bottle room (which I still have some PTSD on).

The worst was when it was snowing out and the lot hadn't been plowed yet and we'd offer drive-up and people would just say "nah i'll take them out myself and save you having to stand outside"... Just for me to then have to go out and get the carts and try to push them back in through the snow.

I got stuck working the drive up at the Cherokee HyVee the day they were a Ragbrai overnight town. I can't even imagine the number of cases of beer, soda, and water I tossed that day. It was one ryder van or team bus after another from about 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 when I left. I made Danny Mac's khaki's in the 1998 Iowa game look dry.
 
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CyDegen

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Fareway and Hyvee have always been the higher priced option for Groceries. It was never cheap to shop at Hyvee but now they don't have the good customer service like many have mentioned. Fareway still will walk your bags to your car!
 
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dmclone

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I really hated cleaning up can redemption. With that said, I was setting records with the number of pepsi points I got from cutting up empty 12 packs. I also worked there in high school where I collected Marlboro Miles, by emptying cartons into single packs. I wish I still had that sweet ass Marlboro jacket, duffle bag, etc.
 

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