HEB OR Walmart? (Houston, San Antonio, Austin: cul-de-sac, appointed, transfer)

[txtea]

Originally Posted by Pancho-Villa

I'll take Wegman's and Publix over HEB anyday.

Yeah, but they are not here.

[Pancho-Villa]

No kidding. The person stated:

"I'll take HEB over Randall's, Tom Thumb, Albertson's, Safeway, Kroger, Jewell, Winn-Dixie, Ralph's, Food Lion, and any other chain grocery store you can think of, any day.

Those aren't here either.

[resonator]

I miss Publix fried chicken but not much else.

[Irishtom29]

Publix makes excellent Italian sub sandwiches, and on the spot, not wrapped up. HEB is OK but I think the Jewel and Publix are better, not that it matters because I no longer live in Florida or Chicago but here.

I haven’t encountered a HEB with a good deli except the Whole HEB on Broadway. Maybe I haven’t hit the right stores.

[Randyk47]

We have out of town friends who shop at Publix at home in Atlanta. They think our HEB is far better. They do think it’s strange we don’t have other major grocery stores here.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by Randyk47

We have out of town friends who shop at Publix at home in Atlanta. They think our HEB is far better. They do think it’s strange we don’t have other major grocery stores here.

The only major national grocery-specialty chains that were in San Antonio in the past were Albertson's and Kroger.


Albertson's entered San Antonio in the 1970s, when HEB, Handy-Andy, and Piggly Wiggly were the big three here. HEB started to pull away from their two main competitors in the mid-1970s, when they adopted a more aggressive pricing and marketing strategy. Kroger came in around 1980, IIRC, but they pulled out in the 1990s. Albertsons left in the early 2000s.

[Lodestar 77]

Growing up in Michigan the Handy Andy there was a hardware chain.

[txtea]

Originally Posted by Lodestar 77

Growing up in Michigan the Handy Andy there was a hardware chain.

We had Handy Dan for lumber, hardware, etc.
Handy Andy for groceries.

[elnina]

I don't like the fact that HEB got rid of most competitors.
Their prices are higher, and their food selection is much smaller here than in Houston, and that alone pretty much sucks...

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by elnina

I don't like the fact that HEB got rid of most competitors.
Their prices are higher, and their food selection is much smaller here than in Houston, and that alone pretty much sucks...

To be fair....when the out-of-state chains entered the SA market, they let it be known that they intended to take HEB out of the grocery business. HEB did the only thing they could - they squared off with national chains and handed their b**** to 'em fair and square. IMO, they earned their market share - and I applaud them for that. The newer markets are coming in with a lot more recognition that HEB is a force to be reckoned with - and that's smart.

We've always had good luck getting them to get things for us just by asking a manager if they didn't carry something. I, for one, am proud to see that a local business was able to take on major out-of-state companies and beat 'em at their own game. And don't forget - HEB is a HUGE contributor to local organizations and a major source of aid to local communities in times of natural disasters.