Medary.com

The Sioux Falls Argus-Leader has a story about Filbert's favorite grocery store--HyVee, and its success:

Hy-Vee's success can in part be attributed to its flexibility. Despite the company's size, Hy-Vee has been nimble enough to change with its environment, said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst for Mintel.

"They've made a targeted effort to find out what the community needs and then provide it," she said.

Each Hy-Vee manager tailors his or her store to the market by deciding which products the store will carry, determining how those stocks will evolve and setting the prices.

Hy-Vee's proximity and customer service are important factors for Julie Ver Steeg, a Sioux Falls customer, but selection and the overall appearance of Hy-Vee stores keeps her loyal.

"I think Hy-Vee is a little bit cleaner than other stores, which is important to me with my son," she said. "I think its just an overall appearance of a store and the food. The food there looks fresher, and the shelves appear to be cleaner."