Hy-Vee Inc. will delay construction of its first out-of-Iowa distribution center and instead focus on building three new fulfillment centers to serve its growing online business and expanding the number of small footprint stores in the eight states where it does business

The company announced Wednesday that it plans to build fulfillment centers in Omaha, Kansas City and the Twin Cities “in the upcoming years."

"We want to continue to grow and improve our Aisles Online program," company spokeswoman Tina Potthoff said. "It's become very popular."

Hy-Vee rolled out Aisles Online at all its stores in 2015. Customers order online, pay electronically and either pick up their groceries at a store or have them delivered.

Shoppers have responded to the program making the need for fulfillment centers even more important, she said.

The company opened its first fulfillment center last year in Urbandale. In other markets, the company uses in-store employees to fill online orders.

The West Des Moines-based grocery company said construction of a 1 million-square-foot distribution center on 150 acres near Austin, Minn., that was scheduled to begin in 2019 is on hold.

“We currently own and operate distribution centers in Cherokee, Iowa, and Chariton, Iowa. We will now evaluate the need for a third distribution center in Austin within the next several years,” Potthoff said in a statement.

Hy-Vee also plans to build more of its new Fast & Fresh stores. Potthoff said several formats are being considered for the smaller stores. The 10,000-square-foot Fast & Fresh shops will include groceries, prepared foods and coffee shops.

The company has already announced plans for Fast & Fresh stores at Merle Hay and Hickman roads in Des Moines and in The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing in Altoona near the new Outlets of Des Moines. Originally, the smaller store proposals included Market Grille Express restaurants and drive-thru pickup for groceries, but those elements are no longer part of the plans, she said.

Construction on the Altoona store could begin this year and the Des Moines store next summer.

A third store is planned near Jordan Creek Town Center although final plans have not been finalized, Potthoff said. That store could include differences from the Des Moines and Altoona stores, she said.

Hy-Vee also is looking at developing mega stores that could exceed the company's largest store, which is about 105,000 square feet, Potthoff said. Generally, its recent full-sized stores cover about 90,000 square feet. Extra large stores could have expanded baby and pet departments or offer the F&F clothing departments that are now in a handful of locations, Pothoff said.

The company said it is adjusting construction plans in response to changes in the way consumers shop and live.

"These are things that keep us ahead of the curve and are ways to meet customer needs," she said.

Customer demand for fresh prepared foods has prompted the company to build a previously announced 240,000-square-foot commissary and bakery in Ankeny and a 48,000-square-foot addition to its Chariton distribution center that will prepare fresh cut fruits and vegetables beginning in January. Both new centers will serve all Hy-Vee stores.