Five Texas-made products took top honors in Quest for Texas Best, the annual competition hosted by San Antonio supermarket chain H-E-B, sharing $110,000 in cash prizes, as well as a chance to be sold at H-E-B stores.

Floresville's Dean & Peeler Meats, a sustainable beef producer known for products like smoked Gouda sausage and Angus tallow tied for third place, taking home a $10,000 check. The Grand Prize winner was Sol Dias, a family-owned Mexican ice cream and paleta company based in Haltom City, who took home the top cash prize of $50,000, earning the title of "Texas Best" and a guaranteed placement on H-E-B shelves.

The five winners were as follows:

• Grand Prize $50,000: Sol Dias, Haltom City Mexican ice cream company
• First Place $25,000: La Fregona, Bastrop creators of a chile sauce for elotes and esquites
• Second Place $15,000: Hive Food Co., Houston beekeepers known for gourmet infused honey
• Third Place (tied) $10,000: Dean & Peeler Meats, Floresville beef producer
• Third Place (tied) $10,000: Uncle Marc’s, Glenn Heights manufacturer of barbecue seasonings, rubs, and sauces

Now in its 13th year, Quest for Texas Best challenges small businesses to compete for the chance to win cash prizes and the opportunity to be stocked on H-E-B shelves.

This year's winners were chosen from a record-breaking 978 entries representing more than 500 companies statewide. Those were culled down in September to 10 finalists, who pitched their products on October 8 at H-E-B's headquarters in San Antonio.

The remaining five finalists were awarded $5,000 each, bringing the grand total to $135,000.

Sol Dias Ice Cream was founded in 2020 by Victor and Stacey Garcia. Their paletas are known for their creamy texture and big chunks of fruit. The company has several shops around Fort Worth, including Haltom City, Watauga, and Irving, with another shop coming to Northside Fort Worth in spring 2027.

The 2026 finalists brought a distinctly Texas mix of food, beverages, and general merchandise to the competition, from frozen cookie dough, smoked sausage, and infused honey to seasonings, street-corn sauce, pet treats, and cocktail mixes.

Since the program began in 2014, H‑E‑B has discovered more than 1,000 Texas-made products and awarded nearly $3 million in prize money, complemented by marketing support, mentoring, and opportunities designed to help small businesses scale.

In a statement, H-E-B's Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity James Harris said that “Because H‑E‑B began as a small business, we understand the difference that meaningful support and access can make. Through Quest for Texas Best, we are honored to champion these innovators as they take the next step in building their businesses and reaching more customers.”

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Brandon Watson contributed to this story.