Five small businesses take home $85,000 in prize money and shelf placement, all ten finalists surprised with $10,000 checks
H-E-B celebrated a decade of H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best competition with a Texas-sized surprise today at Dallas’ Fair Park, site of the final judging for the statewide competition. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Quest for Texas Best, the ten finalists were each surprised with a $10,000 check, bringing the total awarded to the winners to $85,000 and the overall total to $185,000. The Top Ten Finalists were selected from more than 600 submissions.
For a decade, H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best competition has scoured the state for the finest local products to line store shelves for all Texans to enjoy. More than 6,000 products have been highlighted in the competition and more than 990 unique food items, beverages, and general merchandise have achieved shelf placement at H-E-B.
2023 H-E-B Quest for Texas Best
PhoLicious –
Instant Pho
(Houston, TX)
Grand Prize Winner
$25,000
+ one year of free groceries
Verdegreens – Farmstand Salad Dressing
(Houston, TX)
First Prize Winner
$20,000
Sweets with L&L –
Cotton Candy
(Spring, TX)
Second Prize Winner
$15,000
(Tied)
A’HUA! –
Sparkling Agua Fresca
(Jasper, TX)
Second Prize Winner
$15,000
(Tied)
Armagh Creamery-
Organic Yogurt
(Dublin, TX)
Third Prize Winner
$10,000
2023
H-E-B Quest for Texas Best
PhoLicious –
Instant Pho
(Houston, TX)
Grand Prize Winner
$25,000
+ one year of free groceries
Verdegreens – Farmstand Salad Dressing
(Houston, TX)
First Prize Winner
$20,000
Sweets with L&L –
Cotton Candy
(Spring, TX)
Second Prize Winner
$15,000
(Tied)
A’HUA! –
Sparkling Agua Fresca
(Jasper, TX)
Second Prize Winner
$15,000
(Tied)
Armagh Creamery-Organic Yogurt
(Dublin, TX)
Third Prize Winner
$10,000
“Once again, we have seen and tasted the best Texans have to offer, and we look forward to adding more Texas-made products to our shelves,” said James Harris, Sr. Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity. “Today, everyone walked away a winner, and we can’t wait to share with our customers the creative products from these amazing small businesses.”
The judges were: Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs; Mike Jarzombek, H-E-B Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, North West Food/Drug; Esther Castelo, H-E-B Senior Vice President eStore Operations, Curbside/Home Delivery; Javier Avalos, H-E-B Senior Vice President & General Manager San Antonio Region Food/Drug; Chef Scott Tompkins, H-E-B Culinary Development Manager; Erin Booke, Dallas Morning News Food and Entertainment Editor; and Chet Garner, Creator, Host, and Executive Producer of Texas travel show, The Daytripper.
The 10th Annual Competition
Over the past few months, H-E-B’s Business Development Managers have viewed and reviewed over 21 hours of video submissions for 632 of the most creative and innovative products produced by entrepreneurs representing 132 cities across the Lone Star State.
The Decade-Long Competition Delivers Small Biz Support and Product Diversity
Over ten years, 180 finalists have made it to the judges’ table. They represent a dynamic and diverse lineup of small local businesses. Since launching the contest in 2014, H-E-B has awarded $2 million in prize money along with marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support. Additionally, H-E-B has awarded 50 Quest for Texas Best suppliers with a commemorative H-E-B Million Dollar Club belt buckle for achieving $1 million in sales.
