Austin, September 26, 2025
News Summary
Two small businesses from Austin, Oca Foods and Tozi Super Foods, emerged as top winners at the 12th Annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition, showcasing their innovative culinary products. Oca Foods claimed the Grand Prize of $50,000, while Tozi Super Foods won First Place with a $25,000 award. In total, $135,000 was distributed among five winners, emphasizing H-E-B’s commitment to supporting small businesses across Texas.
Austin, Texas
Two Austin small businesses, Oca Foods and Tozi Super Foods, were named top winners at the 12th Annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition held on Thursday. The competition showcased a remarkable selection of more than 370 entries from nearly 150 cities across Texas, celebrating culinary creativity and innovation.
In total, five Texas food innovators collectively won $110,000 in cash prizes, alongside the valuable opportunity to sell their products in H-E-B stores. Oca Foods secured the prestigious $50,000 Grand Prize for its innovative Peanut Butter Bites and Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Bites. Meanwhile, Tozi Super Foods triumphed with the First Place prize of $25,000 for their Totopos (tortilla chips) and Tortillas.
The competition highlighted other notable winners as well, including Deli Spices from McAllen, which achieved Second Place and won $15,000 for their Birria Spice Mix. In a tie for Third Place, Spicytude from Dallas and My Drink Bomb from Houston each received $10,000.
In addition to the main prizes, H-E-B awarded an extra $5,000 to the remaining five finalists, resulting in a total prize money awarded of $135,000. This initiative underscores H-E-B’s commitment to supporting and showcasing small businesses throughout Texas.
Competition Significance
The Quest for Texas Best competition serves as a vital platform for innovative Texas-made products, encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and growth within local communities. Since its inception in 2014, H-E-B has awarded a total of $2.2 million in prize money, showcasing its dedication to uplifting small businesses throughout the state.
Finalists of the competition not only receive cash prizes but also benefit from valuable opportunities such as marketing, mentoring, and product placement in H-E-B stores. The competition signifies how small businesses contribute to community vibrancy and drive innovation within the state, reinforcing the importance of local entrepreneurship.
Overview of Winners
| Business Name | Location | Award | Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oca Foods | Austin | Grand Prize | $50,000 |
| Tozi Super Foods | Austin | First Place | $25,000 |
| Deli Spices | McAllen | Second Place | $15,000 |
| Spicytude | Dallas | Third Place | $10,000 |
| My Drink Bomb | Houston | Third Place | $10,000 |
Conclusion
The success of Oca Foods and Tozi Super Foods furthers the legacy of the Quest for Texas Best competition, inspiring more small entrepreneurs to innovate and excel in the culinary landscape of Texas.
FAQ
What is the H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition?
The Quest for Texas Best competition emphasizes supporting and showcasing small businesses throughout Texas.
How many entries were featured in this year’s competition?
The competition featured more than 370 entries from nearly 150 cities.
What are the total cash prizes awarded in the competition?
The total cash prizes awarded amounted to $135,000.
What was the total prize money awarded since the competition began?
H-E-B has awarded a total of $2.2 million in prize money since the competition’s inception in 2014.
What opportunities do finalists gain from the competition?
Finalists not only gain cash prizes but also opportunities for marketing, mentoring, and product placement in H-E-B stores.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
H-E-B Launches 12th Annual Quest for Texas Best
Additional Resources
- CBS Austin
- Wikipedia: Austin, Texas
- Express News
- Google Search: H-E-B Quest for Texas Best
- H-E-B Newsroom
- Google Scholar: H-E-B Quest for Texas Best
- CultureMap Austin
- Encyclopedia Britannica: H-E-B Quest for Texas Best
- Spectrum Local News
- Google News: H-E-B Quest for Texas Best 2024
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
