Grocery giant HEB has announced the winners of its 11th annual Quest for Texas Best contest.
Judges and HEB partners gathered at Fair Park in Dallas for the final judging of the annual statewide competition that seeks out the best unique Texas products. Winners received a total of $70,000 in prize money and a chance to be featured on HEB store shelves.
“Congratulations across the country to all of this year’s winners and finalists – small businesses that keep our communities vibrant and drive innovation in our state,” said James Harris, HEB’s senior director of diversity and inclusion and supplier diversity, in a statement. “We continue to be impressed by the passionate entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by our finalists and look forward to sharing their creative products with more Texans.”
The grand prize of $25,000 went to Austin-based Birria Queen for its birria spice bombs. First prize and $20,000 went to Hess Street Foods of Utopia, Texas, for its chorizo spice paste. Second prize and $15,000 went to Austin-based Certified Country Lemonade for its frozen sweet tea and lemonade. Finally, Dallas restaurant Encina won third prize and $10,000 for its blue corn butterscotch pancake mix.
To determine the finalists, HEB development managers reviewed over 16 hours of video submissions from 470 entrepreneurs from more than 118 cities across the Lone Star State.
Other finalists for 2024 included:
- Chamoy candies from Sarape Treats in Dallas
- Frozen stuffed naan bread from Marasi Foods in Dallas
- Home of Honestly Texas Rice from the Texas Rice Mill in Brookshire
- Honey dust from BeeKing from Canton
- Mini Frozen Paletas from La Pale Frozen Fruit Bar in Brownsville
- Natural sports drinks from HydroNation in Dallas
Last year’s grand prize went to PhoLicious, a Houston-based family business that makes Vietnamese pho kits.
Since the contest began in 2014, more than 1,000 unique food, beverage and general merchandise items have made it to HEB’s shelves, the company said. The San Antonio-based chain has awarded $2.2 million in prize money, as well as marketing, mentoring and additional support.
In addition to the 2024 winners, 55 Quest for Texas Best suppliers also received a commemorative HEB Million Dollar Club belt buckle for reaching $1 million in sales.
