The Texas-based supermarket business H-E-B does not openly show political support for Israel. It is a privately held, family-run company that is largely concerned with helping the community and is not politically involved in this area. H-E-B has never publicly expressed political support for Israel, despite carrying a section of Jewish groceries.
Despite everything, H-E-B does business with Israeli companies on subjects other than politics. In 2024, the leadership of H-E-B went to Israel to look into their retail technology industry. H-E-B’s goal on this tour was to find technologies that would improve its operations by lowering costs, making things easier for customers, and organizing the work to be done. Although it presented this as a business and innovation endeavor rather than political backing, the corporation expressed interest in partnering with Israeli digital startups.
Beyond these commercial and technological partnerships, there is little proof that H-E-B financially or politically supports Israel. Operation Appreciation is just one of the ways the corporation helps service members and their local communities, without any connection to global politics.
Who is H-E-B?
With over 400 outlets and over 150,000 employees, H-E-B is a privately held corporation that has its headquarters in San Antonio and tends to inspire steadfast devotion from its hordes of admirers. H-E-B is named after its founder, Howard E. Butt, who opened his first store in San Antonio in 1942. The company’s motto, ‘Here, Everything’s Better,’ uses the initials H-E-B, derived from Howard E. Butt’s name. H-E-B, which is ranked as the fifth-largest privately held corporation in the US with revenue of roughly $44 billion in 2023, is still owned by the Butt family. Chairman Charles Butt, son of Florence Butt, is ranked 353rd among the world’s billionaires, with a net worth of $7.6 billion. After 40 years of service, Howard Butt III, 2021, handed over the CEO position to his nephew.
Are there any indications of H‑E‑B’s political stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
H-E-B does not appear to have taken a political position on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. H-E-B and any remarks or acts made by the firm about their concentration on the larger geopolitical background, US policy, and global viewpoints on the conflict. There is no public record of H-E-B expressing a stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or supporting any political side; the corporation is largely a grocery store that prioritizes community and business operations. Their interactions with Israel, like investigating retail technologies, seem to be solely commercial and have no political overtones.
Does H‑E‑B’s engagement with Israel suggest a broader endorsement of its policies?
Looking into Israeli retail innovations does not reflect a broader policy. Business and technical collaborations matter more to the company than seeking support from politicians. Many bilateral state-level activities between Israel and Texas highlight their shared interests in trade, technology, and agriculture, even though the two nations rarely show political support for Israel’s government actions. Israeli industries in technology and farming, due to their creative ideas and high worth, interest many companies seeking business ties.
Besides, many international companies are involved with Israel, mainly to benefit from its scientific and economic strengths instead of making political statements. Any evidence of H-E-B backing or promoting Israel, such as that regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is absent due to its commercial ties.
What role do Jewish foods at H‑E‑B play in their relationship with Israel?
Rather than directly involving their business with Israel, H-E-B meets the religious food preferences and cultural requirements of Jewish communities through kosher items. At H-E-B’s kosher-centered outlets, visitors will find fresh meats according to Jewish dietary rules, baked goods, deli favorites, and prepared dishes. Mashgiachs are ruled as supervisors here, and they check that all foods follow the strict dietary rules (kashrut). The local Jewish population that sticks to kosher food traditions from their religion receives benefits from these organizations.
H-E-B’s kosher items and menus feature Jewish gastronomy, which is especially recognized during Passover and Hanukkah. Among these favorite foods are challah, latkes, and meats that are kosher.
Though there is a difference between Israeli politics and its food, the way Israeli cuisine grew resulted from Jewish communities and regional tastes.
It frequently incorporates kosher laws and Jewish festival meals. Rather than indicating political support or acceptance of Israeli actions, H-E-B’s Jewish and kosher food offerings are in line with respecting Jewish culture and religious adherence.
How do Jewish foods at H‑E‑B reflect its connection to Israeli culinary traditions?
Because Jewish and Israeli food cultures both follow the traditions from the Jewish diaspora and kosher rules, Jewish foods at H-E-B mainly reflect Israeli cuisine. Middle Eastern, North African, Sephardi, Ashkenazi, and Jewish cooking recipes are mixed with common Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spices to prepare Israeli dishes. Typical kosher regions at H-E-B contain challah, falafel, hummus, and shakshouka as fusion foods.
Jewish religious dietary rules and traditions can be seen in typical Israeli dishes and those dishes are for sale at H-E-B, such as challah, kosher meats, and classics from the bakery as well.
Are dishes like falafel and hummus at H‑E‑B inspired by authentic Israeli recipes?
Literal classics from H-E-B, for example, hummus and falafel, are crafted using flavors typical of the Middle East, Israel, and the Levant. Even if these foods are also found in Palestinian and other Arab meals, Israelis have enjoyed them for a long time and they are now famous all over the country.
In the 1930s, many Israeli streets served falafel, which probably came from Egypt and was adopted by Jewish immigrants from the Middle East into the local cuisine. Just like pitas, hummus is an ancient Middle Eastern food mentioned in Arab cookbooks for many years. Many Israeli kitchens embraced this food because of immigration waves during the middle of the last century.
Many dishes in the region are part of a shared or disputed heritage for Palestinians, Arabs, and Israelis but are called Israeli in the media. The way Israeli cuisine came about was local Levantine plates, such as falafel and hummus, fused with meals brought by Jews from abroad.
Falafel and hummus at H-E-B are usually made using recipes influenced by these real Middle Eastern and Israeli cooking customs, demonstrating the blending of cultures rather than a single country of origin. This method serves customers well-known, identifiable foods while honoring the region’s rich, shared culinary tradition.
Why do food chains not support Israel?
Food companies are unlikely to take a political stand in support of Israel because of the complex nature of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. As a result, consumers may strongly react and boycott businesses, mostly in Muslim-majority regions and places that back the Palestinian cause. Because some individuals think they side with Israel in its actions in Gaza, famous international brands alike, including McDonald’s and Starbucks, have been the targets of protests against them.
