H-E-B Crowns 2026 Quest For Texas Best Winners
October 8, 2026

H-E-B Crowns 2026 Quest For Texas Best Winners

October 8, 2026

H-E-B Crowns 2026 Quest For Texas Best Winners

Five Texas Small Businesses Share $110,000 in Prizes and a Chance to Land on H‑E‑B Shelves

H‑E‑B today named the winners of its 13th annual Quest for Texas Best, celebrating five standout small businesses and the Texas-made products poised to become customers’ next favorites. Selected from a record-breaking 978 entries representing more than 500 companies statewide, the five winners shared $110,000 in cash prizes, with the Grand Prize recipient earning the title of “Texas Best” and placement on H‑E‑B shelves.

In addition to the prize money presented to the five winners, the remaining five finalists were awarded $5,000 each, bringing the grand total to $135,000. 

“Texas entrepreneurs bring bold ideas and exceptional products to communities across our state,” said James Harris, Sr. Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity for H‑E‑B. “Because H‑E‑B began as a small business, we understand the difference that meaningful support and access can make. Through Quest for Texas Best, we are honored to champion these innovators as they take the next step in building their businesses and reaching more customers.”

The 2026 finalists brought a distinctly Texas mix of food, beverages, and general merchandise products to the competition, from frozen cookie dough, smoked sausage, and infused honey to seasonings, street-corn sauce, pet treats, and cocktail mixes. Together, they reflect the breadth of innovation emerging from small businesses across our state.

Since the program began in 2014, H‑E‑B has discovered more than 1,000 Texas-made products and awarded nearly $3 million in prize money, complemented by marketing support, mentoring, and opportunities designed to help small businesses scale.

About H-E-B

H-E-B, with sales of more than $50 billion, operates 460 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B has served Texans for more than 120 years. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 175,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and the H-E-B Newsroom.

About H-E-B

H-E-B, with sales of more than $50 billion, operates 460 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B has served Texans for more than 120 years. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 175,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and the H-E-B Newsroom.

About H-E-B

H-E-B, with sales of more than $50 billion, operates 460 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B has served Texans for more than 120 years. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 175,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and the H-E-B Newsroom.

Media Gallery
WFN Foods

San Antonio

WFN FOODS is a San Antonio company built by Miguel Garza and Eugenio Aguirre on a partnership founded on trust. What started with limited equipment is now a USDA-inspected plant of their own. Their Three Taco Fest—Beef Barbacoa, Pork Carnitas and Carne Guisada— puts three South Texas staples in one fully cooked family pack. . Each flavorful option is made with simple ingredients, no preservatives, ready to heat and serve. The mission is straightforward: preserve authentic Texas-Mexican flavors and make family meals easier.

Uncle Marc’s

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Uncle Marc’s was founded by Marcus and Creda Perryman on a simple idea: bring families back to the kitchen. Inspired by Marcus’ Mississippi upbringing and Creda’s East Texas roots, they created a lineup that brings together the best of both sides of the river —  Grill Master Seasoning, Blackberry Molasses BBQ Sauce and Hot Honey Bourbon (BBQ Hot Sauce). Now based in Red Oak, the couple makes bold, versatile blends that turn everyday cooks into neighborhood pitmasters.

Doggie Express

Houston

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Sol Dias

Haltom City (Fort Worth)

Sol Dias Ice Cream is a family-owned Mexican ice cream company founded in 2020 by Victor and Stacey Garcia. Victor learned the art of paleta making from his entrepreneurial parents, bagging paletas as a boy, and built Sol Dias around the sweetness of their hometown: Mexticacan, Jalisco, the birthplace of the paleta. Long churning and a handful of real ingredients give every bar its creamy texture and big fruit chunks.

La Fregona

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Founded in 2023 by husband-and-wife team Rafael Ayala and Jocelyn Alvarez, La Fregona is a Bastrop-based brand built on the belief that the best flavors bring people together. Originally from Michoacán, the pair spent three years traveling across Mexico and learning from eloteros to turn an authentic street recipe into a shelf-stable sauce. Their flagship Mexican Streetcorn Chilito Sauce blends five chiles for smoky, tangy heat and authentic flavor with no artificial colors or flavors. Built for everyday versatility, it enhances not only street corn, but also fruit, snacks, and cocktail rims.

In Your Smoking Face

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In Your Smokin’ Face is a family-owned seasoning company from Roma, founded by Lucio and Kristina Moya. What began as weekend barbecues for family and friends grew through word of mouth into a brand trusted by home cooks and pitmasters across Texas. Their blends, including best-selling Orange Pepper Piquín, BRUTO! carne asada seasoning and Beef Blend, capture the bold flavors of South Texas and give anyone the confidence to serve food they are proud to share.

Hive Food Co.

Houston

Founded in Houston by the Tanvir family, HIVE Food Co. grew from a family beekeeping hobby into a local favorite at the Houston Farmers Market, where neighbors became regulars and every bottle was shared with a story. Woman-owned and GO TEXAN certified, HIVE is on a mission to bring something fresh and exciting to the Texas honey aisle. Handcrafted in Houston with 100% Raw Texas honey and real ingredients, its Lemon + Ginger Infused Honey adds a bright, balanced flavor to tea, toast, marinades, charcuterie and everyday family favorites.

Dean & Peeler Meats

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Founded in 2014 by Dustin Dean and Jason Peeler, Dean & Peeler built the beef industry’s first fully vertically integrated cattle operation, owning every step from genetics and feeding to harvest and retail. The two ranch-raised Texans met through the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Today their Smoked Gouda Sausage and 100% Angus Beef Tallow come straight from their own South Texas cattle. Trademarked “The National Beef of Texas,” Dean & Peeler delivers beef by Texans, for all Americans.

Coley’s Foods Inc.

Boerne

Coley’s is a Texas-based frozen cookie dough company founded in 2025 by Nicole O’Hara. After years navigating chronic illness, Nicole became intentional about ingredients and set out to create the cookie she couldn’t find. Coley’s ready-to-bake dough is gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients and crafted to taste like the homemade cookies she grew up loving. Proudly made in Texas, Coley’s is bringing a new standard to the frozen dessert aisle.

Big Bayou Cocktail Sauces

Houston

Kelly and Donna Flock started Big Bayou as a retirement project in 2016, bottling one handcrafted cocktail sauce in Houston. Nine years and 15 national and international awards later, their lineup runs from Bloody Mary mixes in four flavors, including bacon and bacon-habanero, to a margarita mix and a Cajun blackening seasoning. Each Bloody Mary starts with vegetable juice they make themselves, built for a squeeze of lime, a pour of spirits, and a lot of fun.