H-E-B announced the launch of the 11th annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best, a competition created by the supermarket chain to find the best Texas-made product suppliers.
Submissions for the competition will be accepted from February 21 through April 4, the company said in a press release.
Qualified participants will compete for a combined $70,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to feature their product on H-E-B shelves across the state.
The retail chain said that over the past decade, it has discovered more than 1,000 unique products across Texas, from cookies, coffees, and roasted crickets to empanadas, pickles, and pho to salsas, spices, and much more.
Non-food product submissions have included beauty items, toys, home goods, household necessities, gardening supplies, coolers, and more.
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In addition, they have reviewed more than 6,000 samples of the most creative Texas-made products and awarded nearly $2.5 million in prize money, complemented by marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support.
To date, H-E-B has awarded 51 Quest for Texas Best suppliers with a commemorative H-E-B Million Dollar Club belt buckle for achieving $1 million in sales.
“We look forward to connecting with Texas-based innovators every year and providing exciting opportunities through this competition,” said James Harris, Sr. Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity for H-E-B.
“I can’t wait to see what products are brought to the table this year. After 11 years of the H-E-B Quest for Texas Best and more than 6,000 entries, the creativity and ingenuity of Texans still inspire me,” Harris noted.
To prepare for Quest, participants will have the opportunity to visit with H-E-B Sourcing and Supplier Diversity leaders about product development and best practices for submitting their product during special virtual information sessions on March 6, 13, 21, and 27. Registration is required.
To reserve your informational meeting space, review competition details, and learn more about the two-minute video requirement, please visit heb.com/quest.
Interested suppliers and manufacturers can submit details about their products at heb.com/quest by 4:59:59 p.m. on April 4 for consideration.
After the Call for Entries period is complete, H-E-B’s Business Development Managers will select the top applicants who will present their products before a panel of judges chosen by H-E-B late this summer in Dallas.
The panel of judges will determine the top four winning products and award $25,000 to the Grand Prize winner, the title of “Texas Best,” and placement on store shelves; $20,000 to the first-place winner; $15,000 to the second-place winner; and $10,000 to the third-place winner.
With sales of $43 billion, H-E-B operates more than 430 stores in Texas and Mexico.