UNWRAP THE
Look for new, fun, exciting and out-of-the-ordinary products at Hy-Vee from minority- and women-owned businesses.
Hy-Vee Supports Diversity
We’ve become more intentional in looking for minority- and women-owned businesses to support. This makes us stronger and helps build better communities,” says Sailu Timbo, Vice President of Community and Diversity Relations for Hy-Vee.
The number of businesses that are owned by women or people of color continues to grow; however, their percentage of sales is not keeping pace. Hy-Vee believes it is important to find these businesses and purchase from them so they can continue to grow, and in turn, support their communities.
Supporting minority- and women-owned businesses allows you to advocate for the cultures and products you believe in, as well as buy some unique items. If the businesses are locally owned, it benefits the community because the dollars spent stay in the area.
Also, buying from entrepreneurs of color helps create jobs, closes the wealth gap in local neighborhoods, promotes social mobility and helps the community overall.
Hy-Vee can help. It works with organizations like 24/7 Black Leadership Advancement Consortium and hosts Best of Local Brands summits to find minority- and women-owned businesses and add their products to store shelves, making it easier for you to find and shop them.
BENEFITS
TO COMMUNITY
There is so much opportunity here. I’m so appreciative of Hy-Vee and so excited to grow together.”
–Terri Nguyen, Founder
LUA vietnamese COFFEE
Discover new ways to enjoy single-serve coffee.
Entrepreneur and immigrant Terri Nguyen started LUA Vietnamese Coffee in 2016 to share delicious, single-serve coffee with Americans. “Vietnamese coffee can be bitter,” Terri says, “but I use 100% Arabica beans for a smooth, easy-to-drink flavor.” Enjoy LUA—it means silk in Vietnamese and is used as an acronym for Lasting Unique Aroma—in ready-to-drink cold brew, pour-over coffee, coffee sachets and new oat milk latte.
Quick Pick-me-Up
mama kicks!
Founder Adina Dahlin is committed to helping women—5 percent of sales from her sauces are donated to help female entrepreneurs from around the world find independence and equality. The globally inspired marinades and sauces add the authentic flavors of distant lands—from the Caribbean to the Congo—to your dinner table.
equality for all
pearlie’s
pickles
GYM-N-EAT
CRICKETS
Out-of-the-box thinking
led to a dream come true.
Dare to eat differently with “prairie lobsters.”
A BUg'S LIFE
Shelby Smith grew up on a farm in Iowa, but knew corn and soybeans weren’t her future. In 2018, she started raising crickets and making protein bars, roasted crickets and cricket powder in a variety of flavors. “It’s OK to be afraid at first,” Shelby says. “But think about why you eat what you eat and give crickets a try. You might be surprised at how much you like them!” She is on a mission to “change the way Americans eat, one bug at a time.”
FAMILY TRADITION
Using her grandmother Pearlie’s recipe, Nicole Bailey created a line of flavored sweet pickles in 2015. She started with five flavors sold at farmers’ markets near St. Louis but now has more than 40 flavors available across the Midwest in stores like Hy-Vee. Her company is a poster child for homegrown, family-owned businesses, Nicole says. “As a single African-American mother of four children, if I can, anybody can!”
"It would be cheating the community out of assets if we did not invest in minority-owned businesses. More jobs can be offered within minority neighborhoods,
empowering the areas to grow.”
–Nicole Bailey, Founder
"If you want diverse, business-owning role models in the community, support those businesses with your dollars.”
–Shelby Smith, Founder
Big Moe Cason
Rubs the right way
After working the competitive barbecuing circuit for several years, Moe Cason started bottling the sauces and rubs that helped him win awards. The inspiration behind them came from his grandmother, who he watched as she cooked everything from scratch for her 17 children and their children. “Between my grandmother and mother, I developed a fondness for cooking,” Moe says. That steered him toward barbecue, and Big Moe Cason products are now available at Hy-Vee. Add authentic Kansas City, Memphis or Texas barbecue flavor to your own dishes.
A passion for backyard barbecue turned into a business.
Watch Moe’s backyard barbecue greatness.
Moe Town BBQ
CONTINUE TO GROW
The sales from stores like Hy-Vee allowed Pearlie’s Pickles to buy equipment needed to expand.
Paying tribute to women everywhere for keeping cultural traditions alive.
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Tradition
Tradition