It all began a century ago –– November 26, 1905 –– in the tiny Texas Hill Country town of Kerrville when Florence Butt decided to open a grocery store. Florence and her husband, Charles C. Butt, along with their children, had moved to Texas from Memphis, Tennessee, seeking a better climate for Charles’ health. Florence invested $60 in opening the family’s “Staple and Fancy Groceries” store on the first floor of the two-story Main Street building where they lived. In turn-of-the-century America, small “mom-and-pop” grocery stores were common, but few were run by women. Many believe that it was Florence’s determination and gentle spirit that enabled her business to thrive.

Many of these same qualities were passed on to the youngest of the family’s three sons, Howard E. Butt. Howard started in the business as a small boy, delivering groceries in a little red wagon and later by horse and buggy. By the time he was 16, he was managing the store while continuing his schooling. Howard was a true entrepreneur. His vision, willingness to take risks, and personal credo, “He profits most who serves best,” laid the foundation for H-E-B’s early success, and it is the reason that the company is still serving millions of Texas customers 100 years later.  

Howard was not afraid to try new things, and he gradually grew the business by offering new products and services. He implemented a cash-and-carry system (rather than the traditional credit-and-delivery method) and established a canning company to provide“Texas-grown, Texas-packed goods.” Several of his early attempts to add new stores (four in small Hill Country towns) failed, but his biggest risk, the 1928 purchase of a series of three stores in the Rio Grande Valley, proved to be successful. It was about that time that H-E-B established its reputation for festive and flamboyant store grand openings. In the early days some lucky customers even walked away with live chickens and money that was thrown from the roof. By 1942 Howard had successfully added stores in Corpus Christi, Austin and San Antonio as well.

Howard and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth, both believed that a grocer’s role in a community went well beyond supplying food. This spirit of local contribution and commitment to neighbors still remains strong today. Through the H-E-B Community Investment Program, the company annually contributes more than five percent of gross, before-tax earnings to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and communities throughout Texas. Support takes the form of financial and product contributions, volunteer hours from H-E-B Partners and disaster relief. Major contributions are focused on key areas that include hunger relief and prevention, education, diversity, health and wellness, the environment and the arts.

H-E-B’s good works are legendary in Texas, and some even say that the company’s name actually stands for “helping everybody.” For example, H-E-B provides more than $30 million in product and transportation to support Texas food banks each year. During the annual holiday Feast of Sharing dinners held in 23 communities in Texas and Mexico, community volunteers and Partners feed more than 210,000 people. The company also recognizes outstanding public school teachers, principals, and their schools through the annual Excellence in Education Awards, providing more than $400,000 in grants and prizes.

Charles Butt succeeded his father as company president in 1971 and as chairman of the board in 1984. During the intervening decades, H-E-B has grown from sales of $250 million to $11 billion. Charles has led the company into a new era, making the H-E-B brand synonymous with quality food and low prices. Innovation, a company hallmark since the very beginning, has become even more important under Charles’ leadership. The desire to constantly grow and change has lead to new store concepts and the creation of one of the most successful private label programs in the country.

Today H-E-B brands appear on more than 3,000 items throughout the store, ranging from Fully Cooked® meat products to quality cosmetics. Manufacturing plants in Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Houston turn out milk, ice cream, baked goods and snacks designed especially to suit the tastes of the Texas consumer.

Perhaps one of the biggest H-E-B innovations of all was the introduction of the popular Central Market stores in 1994. Combining the concept of a specialty store with a farmers’ market, Central Market provides the most complete selection of produce, meats, seafood, cheese, wines and specialty grocery items from around the world –– all under one roof. Each location has an on-site European-style bakery, as well as a full kitchen making hundreds of chef-prepared dishes daily. In just a decade, Central Market has redefined quality standards and elevated grocery shopping to an experience enjoyed by Texans around the state.

In 1997 H-E-B opened an exciting new store in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and now operates 21 stores south of the border in Monterrey, Saltillo, Tampico, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and San Luis Potosi. More stores are planned to stay in step with Mexico’s dynamic growth.  

Always focused on how to better serve the needs of consumers, no two H-E-B stores are exactly the same. Some include convenient coffee bars and sushi bars, on-site tortillerias and an expanded selection of prepared foods. Other stores offer drive-thru pharmacies and on-premise photo processing labs for those who are really pressed for time. Still others feature a Cooking Connection kiosk, where daily demonstrations from expert chefs provide customers with easy recipes and new dinner ideas. 

The latest exciting concept is the H-E-B Plus store, which takes one-stop shopping to a whole new level. Customers can find everything from baby clothes and furniture to home décor, farm and ranch supplies, automotive products, and an extensive music and video selection.From its humble beginnings 100 years ago in Kerrville to its position today as the state’s preeminent retailer and largest private employer, H-E-B is a true Texas success story. The company has continued to grow and change while always maintaining its focus on its Partners, customers, communities and the future.

The 56,000 Partners who proudly wear the H-E-B name badge are more dedicated than ever to listening to customers and meeting their individual needs. This unwavering commitment to being the best in the business means that H-E-B will continue to provide superior customer service and the highest-quality products at the lowest possible prices for the next 100 years. And then some...