I also worked at HyVee. My brother and Dad have too. I'm actually glad it was my first job because it gave me a legitimate baseline for any kind of challenges going forward. Sure, it's not rocket science or salt-mining l, but I assure you retail at Hyvee is NO JOKE.
To make a career out of Hy-Vee retail is the definition of a "Lifer." You have to be all in or you are wasting your time and theirs. It's not the best place to just put in a little time and make a little cash, although the majority of their employees fall into that category. There is nothing wrong with that, but there's better places to work at if that is your goal. The culture at Hy-Vee as a career is to give all of yourself, mind, body and soul, to act like you LOVE the company on par with anything else and you are invested in the company's success, from the big picture to the smallest detail.
If that isn't something you want to do or are capable of doing, you will be weeded out and forced out eventually, one way or another. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hy-Vee leadership has contempt for its white collar employees they hired out of necessity to grow. It's just not in the DNA of the place to want to have a specialized career. Hy-Vee is your career.