H-E-B: A Texas Giant Blending Tradition with Technology

With more than 455 stores across Texas and Mexico, sales exceeding $46 billion, and a workforce of 170,000+ Partners, H-E-B is one of the nation’s largest regional grocery retailers. Founded in Kerrville, Texas in 1905, the company celebrated its 120th anniversary this year, underscoring a legacy built on local roots, thoughtful merchandising, and deep community involvement. Over the decades, H-E-B has evolved into a masterclass of customer loyalty while maintaining its focus on service, fresh food, and everyday value.

H-E-B consistently ranks as one of the top grocers in the country. In 2024, dunnhumby named H-E-B the No. 1 grocery store in the U.S.—its fourth time receiving the honor in eight years. The recognition reflects its unique mix of in-store experiences, superior service, and tech-enabled curbside convenience, qualities that have become hallmarks of the Texas grocer’s brand.

In June 2025, H-E-B added self-service capabilities to its retail media network in partnership with Epsilon, giving brands direct access to campaign management through heb.com and the My H-E-B app. This expansion enables both local and national brands to optimize campaigns more flexibly. “We focus on supporting brands of all kinds, including Texas brands,” says Sean Ransenberg, Managing Director and General Manager of H‑E‑B Retail Media, highlighting how H-E-B’s network uniquely amplifies local stories.

H-E-B Retail Media already connects with more than 8 million households weekly through data-driven campaigns across digital and in-store platforms, ensuring brand partners can deliver relevant, impactful messages to engaged shoppers.

Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Retail Media, The H-E-B Way

Building Omnichannel Excellence

Piloting Robot Delivery

Growth Across Texas

Grounded in Tradition, Powered by Innovation

H-E-B has consistently invested in technology to enhance its omnichannel strategy. “Our primary goal is to enable our customers to shop, pay for and receive their products in whatever way they choose—all while delivering an exceptional customer experience,” the company notes. That philosophy underpins its expansion of curbside pickup, home delivery, and its Favor Delivery service, which serves hundreds of communities across Texas.

Earlier this year, H-E-B opened a new 100,000-square-foot e-commerce fulfillment center in Houston—its third in the city and ninth since 2018. Stocked with the same goods found in stores, these facilities reduce aisle congestion, improve product availability, and enable automated picking and packing for curbside and home delivery orders. Since launching the model, H-E-B has transformed fulfillment into a competitive advantage, growing capacity for both convenience and scale.

H-E-B is also testing the future of last-mile delivery. In Austin, the company partnered with Avride to launch robot delivery pilots through its Favor service. These autonomous vehicles carry up to 10 items within a one-mile radius, operating daily between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. They are built to handle Texas weather—from rain to scorching sun—and designed to avoid pedestrians while maintaining safe distances.

The pilot reflects H-E-B’s broader commitment to experimenting with technology that fits seamlessly into daily life, offering speed, efficiency, and convenience.

While firmly anchored in San Antonio, H-E-B has been expanding rapidly across the Dallas–Fort Worth area since 2022, with about a dozen new stores opened or underway. In October 2024, the company unveiled a 128,000-square-foot flagship in Cypress, Texas, continuing to extend its footprint across metropolitan regions.

From retail media self-service tools and robot delivery pilots to dedicated e-commerce fulfillment centers, H-E-B is embracing technology while preserving its local identity. With over a century of community service, fresh food leadership, and a passion for innovation, H-E-B is showing how a regional grocer can set the national standard for customer satisfaction and omnichannel excellence.