HEB

Founded in 1905, HEB is a supermarket chain which was established by Florence Butt. Its headquarters is based in Texas, USA. Ranked as the number 1 Grocery Shop in the USA by Dunnhumby, the chain serves more than 1 million households countrywide.

The business operates over 420 stores, including over 360 in Texas and more than 50 in Mexico. In addition, HEB operates an online store and 2 restaurants as well.

Moreover, HEB offers free online cooking classes hosted by professional chefs as well as one-on-one dietitian consultation, prescription delivery, health screening, medicare and many more.

In 2022, HEB is planning to open 2 stores near Frisco and Plano in Texas.

In the financial year 2021, HEB generated a turnover of €28.6 billion, indicating an increase of 5.1% from 2020. Moreover, the business manages a dedicated entrepreneurial team of over 137 000 people altogether.

Furthermore, the business was elected top grocery store in the country by Food & Wine Magazine in 2020. HEB was awarded this title after dealing with previous disasters in Texas effectively thanks to its emergency plan. In 2021, HEB was ranked 5th on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. 

HEB provides a wide assortment of products under the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: breakfast cereals, jam, sugar, etc
• Savoury Grocery: spices, sauces, condiments, pasta, rice, oil, etc. 
• Frozen Food: ice-cream, fruits, ready-meals, vegetables, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, seafood, meat alternatives, etc.
• Dairy: cheese, margarine, eggs, milk, sour cream, etc. 
• Drinks: coconut water, juice, soda, etc.
• Personal Care: skin care, hygiene, hair care, makeup, etc.
• Household: air fresheners, cleaners, candles, laundry care, etc.

The firm operates various manufacturing facilities in Texas where it produces its own brands such as (not limited to):

• Central Market: a range of organic products like milk, vegetables, broth, etc.
• H-E-B: a brand of food items including chicken, milk, butter, ground meat, etc.
• H‑E‑B Select Ingredients: a range of products like hummus, nuts, biscuits, cereals, etc. 
• H‑E‑B Organics: a variety of products like sauces, vegetables, eggs, pasta, etc.
• H-E-Buddy: oral care, supplements,  crackers, etc.
• Hill Country Fare: products like canned food, chicken, spring water, crackers, vinegar, etc. 

In addition, HEB holds 6 LEED Green Building certifications. 

In terms of logistics, the business has its own distribution centre and its fleet of vehicles. Besides, HEB announced that it will be using robots to carry out deliveries for small online orders. The retail chain has partnered with Swisslog, an automation company, for this purpose. 

Furthermore, the firm offers home delivery in certain areas through Instacart, Shipt and “HEB to you” platforms. It also provides pickup solutions in some of its stores.

Concerning sustainability, in April 2021, HEB offered 200 000 reusable bags on Earth Day to promote recycling. Furthermore, the company added instructions on various products in order to help customers know how they can recycle these items. 

In fact, HEB collaborates with NGOs such as Earthshare to protect the environment. 

HEB's online store can be accessed on: www.heb.com