H-E-B

H-E-B

H-E-B is a privately held supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 340 stores throughout the U.S. state of Texas, as well as in northeast Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an upscale organic and fine foods retailer. As of 2017, the company has a total revenue surpassing $25 billion USD. H-E-B ranked No. 15 on Forbes' 2014 list of "America's Largest Private Companies". H-E-B was named Retailer of the Year in 2010 by Progressive Grocer. Supermarket News ranked H-E-B No. 13 in the 2008 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers". Based on 2014 revenues, H-E-B is the twentieth largest retailer in the United States. It donates 5 percent of pre-tax profits to charity. It has been labeled a religious company; until 1976, it was closed on Sundays and did not sell alcohol.

History

Florence Butt opened the C.C. Butt Grocery Store on the ground floor of her family home in Kerrville, Texas in 1905. The initials stood for her husband, Charles Clarence Butt, a wounded Confederate States Army veteran. The store was taken over by their youngest son, Howard Edward Butt, who expanded the business into a chain, hence the name H-E-B. The company was officially named H.E. Butt Grocery.

Operations

H-E-B offers a variety of foods, such as pre-packaged meals, fresh produce, meats, and seafood. In addition to food, H-E-B also sells pet products, health and beauty products, and home goods. The company is known for its commitment to the communities it serves, often participating in local events and initiatives.

See also

• List of supermarket chains in the United States
• Central Market (Texas)