The four winners of the recent H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition will receive a combined $70,000 in prize money and the chance to have their products reach H-E-B store shelves.
“A big, Texas-sized congratulations to each of this year’s winners and our finalists – small businesses that keep our communities vibrant and drive innovation across our state,” said James Harris, the retailer’s senior director of diversity and inclusion and supplier diversity.
“We continue to be impressed by the passionate entrepreneurial spirit our finalists showcase, and we look forward to sharing their creative products with more Texans.”
Judges and H-E-B employees gathered at Dallas’ Fair Park for final judging in the 11th annual event. The winners are:
- Grand prize – Birria Queen, Birria Seasoning Bombs
- First place – Hess Street Foods, chorizo seasoning paste
- Second place – Certified Country Lemonade, frozen lemonade and sweet tea
- Third place – Encina, blue corn butterscotch pancake mix
The judges included several H-E-B executives: Roxanne Orsak, COO and president of Joe V’s Smart Shop; Winell Herron, group VP of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs; Kyle Stevens, SVP of drugstore, beauty and general merchandise; Leah Luedeker, group VP border region; and Chef Sean Robertson, product development chef. They were joined by Erin Booke, former Texas Food writer and editor and freelance writer, and Chet Garner, creator, host and executive producer of Texas travel show, “The Daytripper.”
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Since the launch of the competition in 2014, more than 1,000 food, beverage and general merchandise items have made it to H-E-B store shelves. This year, the retailer’s business development managers reviewed submissions from 470 entrepreneurs from more than 118 cities across the state.
In addition, H-E-B has awarded $2.2 million in prize money along with marketing, mentoring and supplemental support and presented 55 Quest for Texas Best suppliers with a commemorative H-E-B Million Dollar Club belt buckle for achieving $1 million in sales.
