Last updated on September 8th, 2023
H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best judges have concluded their competition and have selected five winners from the top 10 finalists. The winners come from McAllen, Lakeway, Houston, Dallas and Guthrie and received $80,000 in cash prizes and space on H-E-B store shelves statewide.
“Each year we are amazed by the submissions. The creativity, passion and determination is truly impressive and inspiring,” said James Harris, senior director, diversity and inclusion, supplier diversity.
“H-E-B has been committed to diverse product offerings and workforce for more than a century. As we continue Florence Butt’s legacy of an entrepreneurial spirit, we are thrilled to shine light on these five outstanding businesses and their Texan-made products that will add to the diversity of products on our shelves and to our roster of small, local and diverse suppliers. This is one of the many ways we offer so much more at H-E-B.”
The 2022 H-E-B Quest For Texas Best Winners are:
- Grand prize ($25,000): Annie Leal – I Love Chamoy, Chamoy Salsa;
- First place ($20,000): Ashley Cameron – Love & Cookies, Frozen Cookie Dough;
- Second place ($15,000): Karim and Mansour Arem – ZWITA, Spicy Traditional Harissa;
- Third place ($10,000) – Brent and Juan Reaves – Smokey John’s, Smokey John’s BBQ Rub; and
- Third place ($10,000) – Burnett Ranches – Four Sixes Ranch, Chuck Wagon Chile Mix.
The judges included Winell Herron, H-E-B group VP of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs; Mike Jarzombek, H-E-B Northwest division SVP of sales and marketing; Ashwin Nathan, H-E-B VP of marketing and advertising; Chris Cecchine, VP sales and promotional strategy; Shirin Odar, group VP, marketing; Bob Phillips, Texas Country Reporter; and Erin Booke, food editor, Dallas Morning News.
Since launching the contest in 2014, H-E-B has reviewed more than 5,381 samples of Texas-made food, beverages and general merchandise, found more than 860 products for placement on the retailer’s shelves and awarded nearly half a million dollars in prize money and $900,000 worth of in-kind marketing and mentoring support. H-E-B has awarded 37 Quest for Texas Best Suppliers with the $1 million belt buckle, deemed the people’s choice award based on customer purchases.
Now in its ninth year, H-E-B Quest for Texas Best has expanded its search in the Lone Star State. In addition to food creators and innovators, Texas-based purveyors of beauty items, toys, home goods, household necessities, gardening supplies and coolers are up for consideration.
H-E-B operates more than 420 stores and will celebrate its 117th anniversary this year. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs more than 145,000 employees in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities.
