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.





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.