Hy-Vee Shares Reason Behind Removal of Self-Checkouts at Some Locations

Your Next Hy-Vee Grocery Trip Might Feel Different

Big changes are happening now for some Hy-Vee shoppers, with the popular grocery chain shaking up the checkout experience across Minnesota and Iowa.

Hy-Vee has shared with us what they have in store for checkout options and how these changes could reshape your shopping experience at the grocery store.

The Great Self-Checkout Debate: Convenience vs. Controversy

Self-checkout lanes are like the “pineapple on pizza” of grocery shopping. Some of us absolutely love the speed and independence of scanning our groceries at lightning pace. But others… not so much. Self-checkouts have stirred up no small amount of controversy, and it’s not just about whether you love or loathe doing the cashier’s job.

One of the biggest concerns? Shrinkage (retail-speak for inventory loss) and studies have shown that stores with self-checkouts can see shrinkage rates up to 60% higher than stores without them.

Some people, intentionally or not, scan things wrong, punch in codes for cheaper items, or simply “forget” an item or two. And it’s not all devious, self-checkout errors happen all the time from honest mistakes too. For retailers, this has a real financial impact, which is one reason more stores are putting up the “closed” signs on self-checkouts.

Hy-Vee is Removing Self-Checkouts From Some Stores

It's official, self-checkout lanes are undergoing a transformation, and Hy-Vee is right in the thick of it. The popular Midwest-based grocery chain is pulling back on its self-checkout options at some locations, reportedly transitioning others into express lanes.

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So, what’s driving the change? Is Hy-Vee's move a response to theft, or just a good old-fashioned push to bring people back together with a smile and a "how's your day going"?

We reached out to Hy-Vee's Senior Communications Manager Nola Aigner Davis who put it plainly: they want to go back to more in-person service, a touchpoint many customers miss.

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"At Hy-Vee, we want to provide a better customer experience in several of our stores by bringing back the face-to-face interaction with our employees that we had pre-COVID," Aigner Davis said in an email to MinnesotaNow.

This approach is part of a broader trend. Hy-Vee isn’t alone; retail giants like Target and Walmart are also dialing back on self-checkouts, with Target limiting items and Walmart even removing some of the machines.

It’s a complex situation with multiple reasons behind it, from reducing theft to simply wanting to serve customers better. So, while you might miss the speed of a self-scan spree, there’s a clear push to shift the focus back to real, live employees.

Aigner Davis said they do not yet have a finalized list of Hy-vee stores they are removing self-checkouts from, so keep an eye on your local locations to see if the self-checkout changes are happening near you.

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