Some people, especially those from Iowa and surrounding states, have probably gotten their groceries from Hy-Vee for as long as they can remember. However, most people have never heard of the Iowa-based grocery chain until late last month, when Wisconsin's first Hy-Vee opened at 3801 E. Washington Ave. in Madison.
The funny-named store is worth a visit no matter where you're from. It has a wide variety of food, especially fruits and vegetables, has installed an easy-to-read system that tells customers which foods are healthier, and is right on the bus route for most UW students.
When you enter the 90,000-square foot store, the first thing you'll notice is that it looks like your typical grocery store. A wide variety of regular and organic fruits and vegetables greet you at the doors, along with more than enough carts and baskets and lights that are almost too bright. As you go deeper into the store's aisles, however, you'll see that Hy-Vee is a welcome sight for those who need just about anything.
On average, it takes about a half hour to get to Hy-Vee from campus or downtown, so you might be hungry from that long bus ride. There's no need to make a stop at the nearby Wendy's before starting your adventure thanks to Hy-Vee's many food choices right in the store. They have a Chinese section, an Italian section, a kitchen with many different comfort foods, a salad bar and a deli section with hot and cold sandwiches with more than enough seating. They even have a small Caribou Coffee area for those much needed pick-me-ups.
As previously mentioned, the store has a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with five aisles worth of natural and organic foods—including those from Hy-Vee's unique organic brand of food.
One item exclusive to Hy-Vee when it comes to Madison grocery store shopping is its NuVal, or the Nutritional Value, Scoring System, which allows shoppers to compare different kinds of foods to make sure they purchase the healthiest foods with higher NuVal number. The unique measurement is found near each item's price in small numbers, ranging from 1-100.
For those shoppers looking for even more health incentives, Hy-Vee even offers the services of an on-site dietitian.
Hy-Vee's website is one of the most helpful out there. Not only do they have their weekly ad available online, they also provide many other resources that can help customers find what they need and save money while doing it.
The website also offers a weekly menu section, with healthy and easy-to-make recipes for each day of the week, as well as a budget menu and a ""30 Meals Under $3"" section, both with healthier and cheaper meals than you'd find at Pop's or Ed's on campus.
Hy-Vee has all of the common brands of packaged food that consumers would find at other local stores like Cap Center Foods, but at cheaper prices.
They also have fresh meat, deli, and seafood sections, which you can't find on campus or downtown.
With flowers, a pharmacy, and even dry cleaning available, Hy-Vee has everything you need in one, nearby stop.
