Insane to think that H-E-B has not expanded its market out of Texas yet (store, sell)

[turf3]

Last I looked, Mexico was in fact "out of Texas"; at least since 1845. So it looks to me as if HEB have expanded "out of Texas".

[Scooby Snacks]

Why? HEB's business model works great for them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, as the saying goes. Besides, as someone else mentioned, their major selling point is being based in Texas only. I think expansion would hurt rather than help.

[Luciano700]

Originally Posted by elnina

They have stores in North Mexico...
There are no HEB stores North of Hwy 20, though. DFW has only 8 stores.

Also they don't "like" competition, and thrive more in towns with limited competitors.
https://www.mysanantonio.com/busines...exas-12253.php

I am obviously referring to US H-E-B

Yes, like I said West and North Texas seem to be bigger priorities for H-E-B right now.

[Luciano700]

Originally Posted by turf3

Last I looked, Mexico was in fact "out of Texas"; at least since 1845. So it looks to me as if HEB have expanded "out of Texas".

I am obviously talking about American HEB

[WRM20]

HEB is privately owned, so there's no stock market drivers for expansion at a rate that's faster than is prudent. Lots of formerly great stores were killed by overly fast expansion. Expanding too fast also makes it very difficult to respond to changes in the market, as management is focused on the expansion, rather than paying attention to external factors.

[7 Wishes]

From what I knew of them when I worked for a consultancy to supermarket chains, they sound a lot like Wegmans here in the Northeast. Wegmans has expanded similar in geographical extent to H-E-B, but Texas is so huge that extent might still simply just be within Texas.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by WRM20

HEB is privately owned, so there's no stock market drivers for expansion at a rate that's faster than is prudent. Lots of formerly great stores were killed by overly fast expansion. Expanding too fast also makes it very difficult to respond to changes in the market, as management is focused on the expansion, rather than paying attention to external factors.

H-E-B entered Louisiana in 1996, and exited in 2003.

[jfre81]

HEB would lose a lot of its cachet outside of Texas and become just another Kroger. That said, when I'm not in Texas it's one of the things I miss.


There was an attempt to expand into Louisiana ca. 2000, but they were the older-style HEB Pantry stores and not like the ones they're building now.

HEB brand stuff is pretty high quality. Sometimes I prefer it over the national brand.

[sedimenjerry]

HEB is another one of those things that Texans are absolutely crazy about that I think is underwhelming. Yea it's better than Walmart, almost anything is. It's wrapped up in Texas pride with a fierce loyalty that won't immediately translate to other places. Personally, I could take it or leave it. I didn't miss HEB after college. I shopped there my sophomore year when it was the closest store. The other years Walmart was closer so I went there. I went to the Kroger once and it was downright depressing.

Now I'm in Houston and there's basically three options: Walmart, Kroger, HEB. This Kroger is great. One of the best I've been to. I have no need for the HEB cause I have such a nice Kroger right next to me.

Back in Atlanta, HEB would have to compete with Publix. Good luck with that.

[jfre81]

Publix has that market segment under its thumb in the Southeast, which is probably why HEB has stayed home.

HEB makes a lot of hay out of that Texas-centric mentality when it does business there. There are still people who think Whataburger and Blue Bell don't exist outside of Texas.