H-E-B has named the winners of its 13th annual Quest for Texas Best competition, with five small businesses sharing $110,000 in cash prizes. Sol Dias Ice Cream of Haltom City, near Fort Worth, took the $50,000 grand prize, earning the title of “Texas Best” and placement on H-E-B shelves.
The winners were selected from a record 978 entries representing more than 500 companies statewide. The remaining five finalists received $5,000 each, bringing the total awarded to $135,000.
“Texas entrepreneurs bring bold ideas and exceptional products to communities across our state,” said James Harris, senior director of diversity and 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.”
Related: H-E-B Names 10 Finalists In 13th Quest For Texas Best
The 2026 winners
- Sol Dias Ice Cream, Haltom City, grand prize, $50,000: The family-owned Mexican ice cream company was founded in 2020 by Victor and Stacey Garcia. Victor learned paleta making from his parents, and the brand draws on their hometown of Mexticacan, Jalisco, the birthplace of the paleta.
- La Fregona, Bastrop, first prize, $25,000: Founded in 2023 by husband-and-wife team Rafael Ayala and Jocelyn Alvarez, originally from Michoacán, the brand turned an authentic street recipe into a shelf-stable product. Its Mexican Streetcorn Chilito Sauce blends five chiles and works on street corn, fruit, snacks and cocktail rims.
- Hive Food Co., Houston, second prize, $15,000: The woman-owned, “Go Texan”-certified company grew from the Tanvir family’s beekeeping hobby into a Houston Farmers Market favorite. Its Lemon + Ginger Infused Honey is handcrafted with 100 percent raw Texas honey.
- Dean & Peeler Meats, Floresville, third prize tie, $10,000: Founded in 2014 by ranchers Dustin Dean and Jason Peeler, the company built a fully vertically integrated cattle operation from genetics to retail. Its Smoked Gouda Sausage and Angus beef tallow come from the company’s own South Texas cattle.
- Uncle Marc’s, Glenn Heights, third prize tie, $10,000: Founded by Marcus and Creda Perryman, the brand blends Marcus’ Mississippi upbringing and Creda’s East Texas roots in a lineup that includes Grill Master Seasoning, Blackberry Molasses BBQ Sauce and Hot Honey Bourbon BBQ hot sauce.
Since the program began in 2014, H-E-B said it has discovered more than 1,000 Texas-made products and awarded nearly $3 million in prize money, complemented by marketing support and mentoring to help small businesses scale.
San Antonio-based H-E-B, with sales of more than $50 billion, operates 460 stores in Texas and Mexico.
