H-E-B surprises food bank donation with Lubbock expansion announcement

Grocery retailers are no strangers to food bank donations, but San Antonio-based H-E-B BB #:106490 decided to sneak in a big announcement in Lubbock on Aug. 28.

The retailer, which has been slowly expanding north and east in the Lone Star State, is building its first store in Lubbock, with a planned late-2020 opening date.

“This is probably the worst kept secret in Lubbock,” said Scott McClelland, president of H-E-B Food & Drug, during a live video announcement at the South Plains Food Bank. “It’s true. The wait is over. We still have some work ahead of us, but we just couldn’t keep the secret any longer.”

The 120,000-square-foot store’s site has been chosen, at 114^th and Quaker, with plans to break ground in early 2020.

H-E-B plans to offer enhanced store features like a Meal Simple department with chef-inspired meals prepared in store, Cooking Connection live demonstrations and sampling, H-E-B Curbside online ordering and pickup, and delivery powered by the company’s Favor service.

The announcement coincided with two trailers of food donated to the South Plains Food Bank, one of cereal and one of fresh produce, and $25,000 donations to the food bank, Communities in Schools, Lubbock Impact and Raider Red’s Food Pantry.

Read more details about the Lubbock expansion here.