Hy-Vee gets Maid-Rite

DES MOINES, Ia. Hy-Vee is partnering with Maid-Rite to open sandwich shops in its convenience stores across the Midwest.

The first Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe Express opened this week in Omaha, Neb. and there are plans for similar ventures in Iowa (Ankeny and Dubuque) and Missouri (Gladstone and Osage Beach) over the next year.

The sandwich shops will offer loose-meat sandwiches, tenderloins, chicken and milkshakes.

According to Maid-Rite ceo Bradley Burt, the partnership is the result of a few years of negotiating and planning between the two companies.

“They wanted, as we did, a respected local brand that would have familiarity and identity to the customers we all serve and so Maid-Rite won out over the other quick serve restaurant competitors to go into Hy-Vee convenience stores,” Burt said.

“Both businesses have a rich Iowa heritage,” added Tom Watson, Hy-Vee's vp of general merchandise. “We each built our brands on helpful, friendly customer service, and we're excited to work together to forward that concept in a convenience store format.” Maid-Rite currently has 85 restaurants across the Midwest and opens a new outlet every two weeks.

Maid-Rite opened its first sandwich shop in a Hy-Vee gas station.

Hy-Vee, based in West Des Moines, owns 77 convenience stores across the Midwest.