H-E-B, one of the largest privately owned supermarket chains in the United States, was founded in 1905 by Florence Butt in San Antonio, Texas. Known for its extensive network of over 300 stores in Texas and Mexico, H-E-B has consistently grown to become a household name, revered for both its quality service and impressive revenue of around $30 billion. Despite being a privately held company, H-E-B has successfully competed with larger public corporations, earning a reputation as a leader in the grocery industry.

H-E-B Logo History

The logo of H-E-B has remained a symbol of consistency, reflecting the company’s long-standing values and its commitment to providing a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere for its customers. Over the years, H-E-B’s visual identity has evolved, maintaining a clear, strong presence that emphasizes the company’s reliable and friendly image.

1905–1938: The Early Logo

The first logo of H-E-B, introduced in 1905, was simple yet confident. The design featured the initials “H.E.B” with wide spacing and a dash line separating each letter. Beneath this, the word “Grocery” was placed in a slightly smaller font, with tightly spaced letters. The use of uppercase gray letters with a thin white line running through each stroke gave the logo a three-dimensional appearance, almost like cement lettering. At the bottom of the logo, the establishment year, “1905,” was proudly displayed. This early design conveyed strength and stability, reflecting the business's initial growth.

1939–1978: Simplification and Refinement

In 1939, as the business incorporated and began expanding, H-E-B adopted a more streamlined logo. The initials “H-E-B” were closely spaced, and the dash lines were replaced with tilted rectangular dots at the bottom, adding a more modern, yet still classic, touch to the design. The font used was a simple sans-serif, with uneven stroke thickness that gave the logo a handwritten quality. White letters outlined in black provided clarity, making the logo stand out on any background. This version of the logo reflected the chain’s growing presence while maintaining its approachable, down-to-earth image.

1979–Present: The Modern Logo

The most significant change to the H-E-B logo occurred in 1979, when the brand adopted its current emblem. The new logo features a horizontally elongated badge with rounded edges, forming an ellipsoid shape. The scarlet-red and white color scheme symbolizes strength, professionalism, and progressiveness. The bold red background highlights the white “H-E-B” letters, which are rendered in a custom, extra-bold sans-serif typeface that exudes confidence and modernity.

The primary version of the logo shows the red badge with white lettering, while a secondary version places the white badge on a red background, with the letters in red. Both versions are framed by double outlines in red and white, alternating between the internal and external lines to create a dynamic, energetic look.

The H-E-B logo has evolved to reflect the company’s enduring commitment to providing quality products and service, while maintaining a modern and professional visual identity. It remains a recognizable symbol of strength and reliability, reinforcing the company’s place as a trusted grocery provider in Texas and beyond.