Hy-Vee Mobile App Includes Social Functions

Midwestern grocery chain Hy-Vee has launched a mobile app for customers developed to making its customer’s shopping easier, faster and more social.

"We decided to jump into the social media conversation and make our stores easier to navigate by developing an app that helps you find the foods you're looking for faster, and even tweet about what's missing on our shelves," said Ruth Comer, assistant VP of media relations for Hy-Vee. “This app gives us another way to communicate with customers, and fulfill our mission of making lives easier, healthier and happier."

The free app, available for the leading smartphone platforms, is built on the AT&T Mobile Enterprise Applications Platform utilizing Seattle-based Taqtile Mobility's Shingle solution for retail. It offers a number of interactive features to help customers with meal planning and preparation, or gaining access to store and pharmacy information, and allows users to:

• Locate products: Customized by store, the voice-activated productl leads customers directly to the aisle and shelf of the product they're looking for.
• Browse weekly ads, Search Recipes and Build Shopping Lists: Customers can create shopping lists on the go, and even browse through recipes and the store's weekly ad, transferring items they want to purchase onto their list.
• Shop: Catering, floral and bakery items are available for purchase with just a few clicks.
• Interact with Hy-Vee via Social Media: The app make it easy to engage in Hy-Vee's social media channels, and even report out-of-stock items via Twitter.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating 235 supermarkets and drugstores in eight Midwest states. In 2011 Hy-Vee recorded total sales of $7.3 billion, ranking it among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the U.S.