Hy-Vee expanding into new markets

Hy-Vee Inc. is looking to grow outside of its Midwest base.

The Midwest grocer plans to enter the state of Tennessee, with a location in Spring Hill, which is about 35 miles of Nashville. The approximately 160,000-sq.-ft. store has tentative plans to open next year.

The Spring Hill store will be among Hy-Vee’s first locations in the Southeast. In addition to Tennessee, the company also plans to enter Kentucky, Alabama and Indiana. Last year, the Des Moines Register reported that Hy-Vee plans to build its third distribution center, in Nashville. It would be the company's first DC outside of Iowa.

Hy-Vee currently operates more than 285 stores across eight Midwestern states, including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin, with sales of more than $12 billion annually.

“As Hy-Vee continues to grow and evolve, we have so much to offer consumers across the U.S. that we knew it was time to expand our footprint even further,” said Randy Edeker, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee, which is based in West Des Moines, Iowa. “As customers’ shopping habits change and their needs evolve, we have services and offerings that we believe will bring an entirely new retail experience to those in Tennessee.”

[Read More: Hy-Vee introduces national delivery]