Supporting Black-Owned Businesses

I was inspired by the ingenuity of local farmers and their ability to create such smooth, high-end spirits under not-so-glamorous conditions.

— Marquas ashworth

When you support and buy from black-owned brands,

— Psyche terry

Shop Now

flavors of Pearlie’s pickles are available throughout the midwest.

Over 50

Offering products and services by Black-owned businesses is just one way Hy-Vee embraces diversity and remains connected to local communities,” says hy-vee spokesperson Rachael Tiby.

— Nicole bailey

It’s always hard work, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO

— Ike Seymour

Product availability may vary by location.

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

Urban hydration

hours of volunteer work

PEARLIE's PICKLES

Big Daddy’s Bar-b-q Sauce

Shop Now

Product availability may vary by location.

Ziyad Rye whiskey

for nonprofit organizations dedicated to social justice, racial equity and helping families in underserved communities. The week of service, starting February 22, was part of Hy-Vee’s ongoing commitment to racial unity and to its campaign to donate $1 million and one million volunteer hours to organizations working toward racial equality.

In 2021, Hy-Vee employees recognized Black History Month by performing

Learn how hy-vee partners with black entrepreneurs and how supporting their businesses can help build stronger communities.

WHAT IS black HISTORY MONTH

Shop Now

It reminded me of my own personal journey.”

you are helping that brand gain vital visibility, which will often catch the eye of important retailers and investors, allowing the brand to continue to grow and thrive.”

Through promoting his record label, Media Fresh Records, MarKaus learned the history of Prohibition-era whiskey in the Des Moines area. He launched Ziyad, named after a formerly enslaved North African military general, and began producing whiskey nearly identical to a recipe used by Iowa bootleggers in the 1920s. In fact, the rye is grown in the same fields used a century ago. The sippable whiskey has prominent spice and grain flavors with slight floral notes. MarKaus’ love for music is heavily tied to every bottle, with a download link to new songs, exclusive videos, concert tickets or private tastings.

Marquas “MarKaus” Ashworth is a Des Moines-based rapper, artist and producer who was inspired by 100-year-old traditions to create a new rye whiskey.

Psyche Terry was inspired to create her natural beauty brand, Urban Hydration,

after a lifelong struggle with eczema. She realized she couldn’t even pronounce many of the chemical ingredients in the skin-care products she was using, and she wanted to create effective skin- and hair-care products with natural, recognizable ingredients. With her husband Vontoba, Psyche launched Urban Hydration in 2009. The line now has over 100 skin- and hair-care products made with ingredients such as coconut oil and aloe vera, and without parabens and paraffins. With every product sold, Urban Hydration donates 1 gallon of water to a community without access to fresh drinking water.

I HELP

Partnering with Entrepreneurs

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018 almost 125,000 businesses with at least one employee were owned by Black entrepreneurs. Hy-Vee is committed to supporting Black-owned-and-operated businesses. Investing in these businesses allows owners to reinvest in their communities, hire more workers and expand.

She began by bottling and selling just five flavors at farmers’ markets in the St. Louis area. Pearlie’s Pickles are now available at Hy-Vee stores throughout the Midwest, in flavors such as spicy hot garlic, pineapple and pink lemonade. Nicole’s success exemplifies the values of hard work, determination and consistency that she learned from her grandmother.

In 2015, Nicole Bailey found a way to share her grandmother Pearlie’s sweet pickle recipe with her community.

“For more than 90 years, each Hy-Vee store has uniquely sold local products.”

Owned by Ike “Big Daddy” Seymour and his wife Arnzie, the restaurant was beloved for its famous smokey-sweet barbecue sauces until it closed in 2002. “We wanted to keep the sauce going, because so many people love our sauces,” Big Daddy’s son, also named Ike Seymour, says. Big Daddy passed away in 2004, and the Seymour family has carried on his legacy by selling his sauces at Hy-Vee stores throughout the Midwest. “He wanted his sauce all over the world,” Ike says. “We’re taking one step at a time to make his dream come true.”

Big Daddy’s Bar-B-Q opened its doors in 1983 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Shop Now

a national observance recognizing the achievements of Black people. The observance began as Negro History Week initiated by historian and author Carter G. Woodson in 1926 to teach school children about their heritage. Observed in the second week of February, it coincided with birthday celebrations for Abraham Lincoln and for writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In the 1960s, the weeklong celebration evolved into Black History Month, and it was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Black History Month is also now honored internationally, with many European countries recognizing it in October.

February is Black History Month,

HOW CAN I HELP

One of the best ways to honor the spirit of Black History Month is to continue your support year-round.

HOW DOES HY-VEE CELEBRATE

Become a regular at Black-owned businesses in your community, recommend them to others and give positive reviews online and on social media. All of these actions help businesses grow, which creates more jobs and wealth in your community. According to the Brookings Institute, each Black business creates an average of 10 jobs, compared to 23 jobs for non-Black businesses. If that average increased to 23 jobs for each Black business as well, it would create almost 1.6 million new jobs throughout the country.

Product availability may vary by location.