Grocery report

Texas supermarket chain H-E-B bags No. 1 rating for best online experience

H-E-B seems to have super market super powers.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

It hardly seems possible, but Texas-based H-E-B has put yet another accolade in its basket.

A study by research company Ipsos finds that H-E-B leads 14 major grocery chains in the U.S. for customer satisfaction with e-commerce offerings. H-E-B earns praise for in-stock availability, ability to schedule pickup times, and good instructions for order pickup. It also earns kudos for a high level of order accuracy, no fees or minimum fees, and excellent communication.

In May, San Antonio-headquartered H-E-B rolled out free curbside pickup at more than 250 stores in Texas. H-E-B no longer charges a $4.95 fee for a curbside pickup order, as long as a minimum purchase of $35 is made. (Orders must be at least $35 before taxes, discounts, promotions, or coupons. A $2.95 fee is imposed for orders less than $35.)

H-E-B launched curbside service in 2015. Three years earlier, H-E-B began selling items online. The first e-commerce purchase was a custom-made cake.

In 2018, H-E-B stepped up its e-commerce game with the acquisition of the Austin-based Favor delivery service. Favor now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of H-E-B.

Florida-based grocer Publix nailed down the No. 2 spot in the Ipsos study, with Germany-based Aldi grocer landing at No. 3.

“As we continue to see the adoption and usage of digital offerings rise, it is critical for brands to ensure a seamless and safe end-to-end e-commerce experience to keep customers coming back,” Carlos Aragon, vice president of Ipsos Channel Performance, says in a July news release. “Knowing which brands are leading the pack — and more importantly, why — is critical to succeeding in the e-commerce economy.”

Ipsos based the rankings on feedback from 2,000 American consumers, as well as 100 mystery shopping experiences for each brand.

In North Texas, there are H-E-B locations in Burleson, Hudson Oaks, Granbury, Cleburne, and Waxahachie. Three Dallas-area stores are on the way: Frisco and Plano, set to open in fall 2022, and McKinney, slated for spring 2023.

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Homeless News

Downtown Dallas homeless service Stewpot lands bigger better space

The Stewpot

It's official: The Stewpot, a community program that serves the homeless, has a new home. According to a release, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas — the organization that oversees the Stewpot — has acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. where the StewPot will soon reside.

“This new facility will allow us to better deliver our programs and continue to support the 12,000 people served annually by CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry programs,” said Brenda Snitzer, executive director of The Stewpot.

The Stewpot is a community ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. Established in 1975, it began with a concerned group of church members who started preparing lunch for the congregation's homeless and hungry neighbors.

It serves those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Its programs have tripled in size in recent years, and the ministry has outgrown its current space at 1835 Young St. across from the church.

When CitySquare announced earlier this year that it would cease operations and sell its property by the end of the year, First Presbyterian leaped in to make a bid on the space. Members voted on Sunday, December 8 to approve the acquisition. The closing is scheduled for Friday, December 13. The Stewpot will begin moving into the new space later this month.

As a part of the acquisition, The Stewpot will continue two of CitySquare’s core programs: its Food Pantry and its Neighbor Resource Center, which helps people with housing options, SNAP, WIC, healthcare, financial assistance, and mental health services.

The property is a mile from The Stewpot’s current facility on Young Street, across the street from the church. With this acquisition, The Stewpot will move its operations and offices, while continuing to serve more than 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown.

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