This is America’s Favorite Grocery Store — and It’s Not What You Think

You might not find crowds waving banners outside your local grocery store, but just like bands or sports teams, supermarket chains have their devoted fans. Some of us go miles out of our way for food brands we can’t find elsewhere, while others choose a specific store because of the can’t-beat prices. With 150,000 grocery stores in North America, consumers have a lot of options to choose from. However, according to a recent survey, one grocery store stands above the rest as America’s favorite, and it’s only available in Texas: H-E-B.

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The History of H-E-B

In 1905, Florence Butt opened a small family-owned grocery store in Kerrville, Texas, selling canned goods, preserved meats, cheeses, medicines, and spices. However, it wasn’t until 1927 that the company took off, when her son Howard E. Butt, the store’s namesake, opened a second grocery store about two hours away in Del Rio. By implementing the novel cash-and-carry concept, encouraging shoppers to choose their own groceries and bring them to the counter, H-E-B was able to lower costs, making them very popular with consumers. H-E-B now operates over 420 stores across Texas and Mexico.

What Makes H-E-B So Popular?

H-E-B has embraced local pride as part of its identity. Buildings on H-E-B’s corporate campus in San Antonio are made of Texas limestone, and each store sells beloved Texan staples, like Fancy Ketchup from local fast food chain Whataburger and barbecue sauce made by Austin’s legendary Franklin Barbecue. From Texas-shaped cutting boards to tortilla chips, H-E-B emphasizes and plays up the Lone Star connection by providing kitschy and well-made products for consumers.

H-E-B’s Specialty Stores

H-E-B is about far more than just selling plates shaped like Texas—it also believes in supporting the diverse communities in the state. In 2006, H-E-B launched a popular Mexican-style grocery store and brand called Mi Tienda to cater to Texas’s large Hispanic population. Staffed by Spanish-speaking employees, Mi Tienda offers high-quality Mexican foods, many of which are made in-house.

H-E-B also operates Central Market, a specialty store similar to Whole Foods that sells multicultural goods produced outside of Texas; a budget grocery store called Joe V’s Smart Shop; and has recently begun production on a branded line of H-E-B True Texas Barbecue products.

Will H-E-B Ever Go National?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you live in Texas, you probably won’t see an H-E-B pop up in your neighborhood anytime soon. The store plans to stay local and invest heavily in the state of Texas. However, if you’re not planning on visiting the Lone Star state anytime soon, you can order H-E-B products online in most states.

America’s Other Favorite Grocery Stores

H-E-B may be the only Texas-exclusive grocery store on the list of America’s favorite supermarkets, but the remaining stores in the top five are probably much more familiar to people all over the nation. Amazon Fresh offers same and next-day delivery options on fresh produce and packaged goods; Costco continues to be a family favorite, with options for bulk buys and massive savings; Market Basket is an East Coast staple, with stores across four states; and Sam’s Club is a beloved big-box store known for savings on everything from prescriptions to gas.

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