(abbreviated '''H-E-B''') is a
Texas Supermarket chain with over 300 stores and 56,000 employees.
The company was founded in
1905 when Florence Butt opened C.C. Butt Staple and Fancy Groceries in
Kerrville ,
Texas . In
1919 , Howard E. Butt, her youngest son, took over the store upon his return from
World War I . In
1924 , he expanded the Butt Grocery Company with a new store in
Junction , about 60 miles from Kerrville.
Charles , the youngest son of Howard E. Butt, became president of the H.E. Butt Grocery Company in
1971 . Today, Charles Butt is chairman and
CEO of H-E-B, having grown the business from sales of $250 million in 1971 to $11 billion in 2003. In 2003, the company was #10 on ''
Forbes ''' list of largest privately held companies, and the largest privately held company in Texas. Mr. Butt, whose fortune is estimated to be over $2 billion, is the richest man in
San Antonio .
In 1994, H-E-B introduced its popular
Central Market concept in
Austin . Originally test-marketed in 1990 as "H-E-B Marketplace" in San Antonio, Central Market is an upscale store featuring a European bakery, a
Deli with meats and cheeses from around the globe, and a juice and
Ice Cream bar. The chain is now comprised of seven stores (two in
Austin and one each in
Dallas ,
Fort Worth ,
Houston ,
Plano & San Antonio). The H-E-B Marketplace, while still keeping its label, now offers only the standard H-E-B supermarket offerings.
Among the 300+ stores throughout Texas and
Mexico , locations include the upscale Woodlands Market and Austin-Escarpment stores, featuring the best of items found in Central Market and H-E-B stores. In 2004, the company launched three (Austin,
San Juan &
Waco ) "H-E-B Plus!" stores, 109,000-square-foot megastores with an expanded focus on non-food categories like entertainment and general merchandise. In 2005, this concept was further expanded with three new locations (
Corpus Christi ,
Round Rock & San Antonio) comprised of 161,000 sq. ft. each. These stores carry 40,000 additional items and include a gift registry and new departments like entertainment, bed & bath, and "Texas Backyard," as well as expansions of departments found in typical H-E-B stores.
The company operates several manufacturing facilities in Texas where it produces many of its own brand products including milk, bread, ice cream and other snacks. Historically, the company is known for its generosity, with 5% of annual pre-tax earnings given to civic and charitable organizations in the communities they operate in, including education and food banks. H-E-B is also very environmentally driven, focusing on recycling and conservation, and in 1999 began converting their Houston distribution fleet to run on liquified natural gas. The year
2005 marks the company's 100th year in operation.
As of early
2002 , H-E-B's then 44-store San Antonio operation had reached a 61 market share and was the area's top grocer.
Albertsons , then the area's second top grocer, exited the market in April 2002 by closing its 20 remaining area stores after already shuttering three other stores in December
2001 . At the time of their withdrawal, Albertsons held a 15 market share. Albertsons was the area's third top grocer before
Kroger exited the market in mid-
1993 when it closed its 15 area stores. Then, H-E-B's 37 area stores held a 43.2 market share, Kroger's 15 area stores a 13.7 share, and Albertsons' 10 stores a 13.1 share.
