Assistant Manager Ryan Kloeckl stands in front of Hy-Vee, which has won Grocery and Pharmacy of the year for five years in a row.

NEW ULM – For the fifth year straight, Hy-Vee has taken the crown as New Ulm’s favorite grocery store.

Assistant Manager Ryan Kloeckl said it is an amazing honor for Hy-Vee to be chosen again, given the stiff competition in town.

“We tried to do the best to help our customers out,” he said. “I think giving the best service and getting the best deals we possibly can keeps people coming back and we’re hoping this makes us stand out.”

Kloeckl said keeping things neat and organized has played a part in their continued success, as have his employees.

“You want to make sure you’re the person that’s helping every customer,” he said. “Taking care of everybody when they need something done. It’s all about the customer service and the customer.”

The pharmacy window lies open, waiting for someone to get their prescription filled.

With so many different insurances and prescription types, Kloeckl said it has been very important to have knowledgeable staff in their pharmacy department. In the grocery section, he said it has become a place where many people see and interact with community members.

Over the past year, Kloeckl said they have continued to work on the parking lot. He said it has been a sore subject, but they are continuously looking to make the customer experience as smooth as possible through patchwork. Work has also been done on the roof. For better energy usage and heat reduction, they switched their black roof to a white one.

“It reflects the sun better during the summer months,” Kloeckl said. It doesn’t take on as much heat so we’re using less energy here. Having a black roof melted the snow pretty quickly in the wintertime. But in summertime, [our white roof] helps save energy.”

In terms of ways to improve moving forward, Kloeckl said it is a constant work in progress to keep themselves at the top of their game. He said in the next couple of months they will be contending with the 20th Street project, which will block some entrances.

Hy-Vee’s busiest day is Sunday. Kloeckl said 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. are consistently the busiest time of day every day. He said there are also supper rushes, where people look to enjoy steaks, pork chops, chicken, and other Hy-Vee offerings.