Hy-Vee has notified 368 Urbandale fulfillment center employees that they face being laid off in early May.

The West Des Moines-based grocer, which operates in eight states, is closing all four of the fulfillment centers for its Aisles Online delivery service. The Urbandale center was the only location in Iowa.

"We are listening to our customers and they are wanting a full assortment of products, personalized shoppers and same-day pick-up at the store, which we are unable to fully provide when we process orders at a fulfillment center," Hy-Vee spokesperson Christina Gayman said in a statement. "Fulfillment center operations will be transferred to our retail stores in the market later this month."

Same-day grocery delivery will still be available in metro Des Moines through local Hy-Vee stores.

Gayman said the company plans to transfer "several dozen" of the fulfillment center employees to Hy-Vee stores. She estimated around 300 workers would not be transferred.

The fulfillment center will stop filling orders the week of March 23, Gayman said, but the layoffs will not be effective until May 6.

More:Hy-Vee is closing all Market Grilles, will replace them with Wahlburgers restaurants

The notice to employees is required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. It mandates employers give employees at least 60 days advance notice of mass layoffs.

The shuttering of fulfillment centers is among many recent staffing and scheduling changes for Hy-Vee. In February, the company ended 24-hour service at its Des Moines stores.

"This move (away from 24-hour operation) also allowed us to reevaluate how we operate our stores so that we can become more efficient," Hy-Vee Senior Vice President of Communications Tina Potthoff said in a February news release. "Because of this, store directors will be making staffing changes over the upcoming weeks — which could include promotions, reallocations or reductions — to reflect the needs of their individual store."

The chain also announced a restructuring of its management hierarchy in the same release, sent Feb. 18. It said some store directors would be promoted to district store directors, overseeing several stores instead of just one. Other store directors would be demoted to store managers, according to the release.

Hy-Vee is looking toward new retail avenues while slimming down store operations. The brand purchased four former QuikTrip gas and convenience store locations last month with the intent of reopening them under the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express, a convenience store concept. The retailer also plans to rebrand its Hy-Vee Gas stores.

Katie Akin is a retail reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com or at 515-284-8041. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

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