H-E-B Valle Alto, located at Carr Nacional Km. 271, Lomas de Valle Alto, 64989 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
Everything may be bigger in Texas, but the state’s homegrown grocer may just be better in Mexico. Just when I thought no store does more than my local H-E-B, a quick trip to one of the chain’s Mexico-based locations proved me wrong.
I visited an H-E-B in Monterrey, the capital and largest city of Nuevo León about 3 hours south of Laredo, to see how it compared to its Texas stores. While the shopping experience was similar to what you’d expect in the Lone Star State, the Monterrey store had several key differences that made me wish I lived in Mexico.
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H-E-B’s Mexican subsidiary operates more than 60 stores in Mexico, a majority of which are in Nuevo León, according to Scrape Hero data. I stopped by the H-E-B La Estanzuela, also known as H-E-B Valle Alto, located at Carr Nacional Km. 271, Lomas de Valle Alto, 64989 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
Carts section near the main entrance of the H-E-B Valle Alto in Monterrey, Mexico.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
The store’s exterior looked just like a regular H-E-B, except the picturesque mountains in the background made it appear even more majestic. Inside was a similar layout to that of a smaller H-E-B plus with sections including produce, a bakery, home goods, beer and wine, meats, frozen meals, pharmacy, electronics and beauty. Here’s everything I noticed at the H-E-B in Mexico vs. Texas:
Fruits organized in the produce section at the H-E-B in Monterrey, Mexico.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
The bakery at H-E-B Mexico is on another level
Upon entering, one of the biggest perks I noticed at the Monterrey H-E-B was the huge variety of produce and foods. For example, there was a row full of different types of apples and another stocked with tropical fruits like coconuts, guavas, melons and more.
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Further in, I saw an indoor dining spot where shoppers can order food or grab a sweet treat from the “El Cafecito” area which serves gelato and aguas frescas alongside other grab-and-go options. The panaderia (bakery) was also fully stocked with rows of pan dulce from chocolate croissants to red velvet chocolate chip cookies, Oreo donuts and more.
El Cafecito cafe at the H-E-B Valle Alto in Monterrey, Mexico.
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Rows of pan dulce line the panaderia at the H-E-B Valle Alto in Monterrey, Mexico.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
H-E-B Mexico has cafes—and two places to get gelato
The store featured not one, but two gelato shops in the store including El Cafecito near the bakery and another, Helados Sultana, by the check-out area. Aside from the products, I also saw an “H-E-B Bistro” near the dairy area which served hot rotisserie chicken, “Meal Simple” warm tamales and bean chorizo packages.
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Refrigerated meats section at the H-E-B Valle Alto in Monterrey, Mexico.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
H-E-B Mexico refrigerates food differently
Another key difference I noticed was that nearly every cold or refrigerated product was organized inside large refrigerators, especially in the produce and meat sections. At H-E-B, I’m typically used to shopping for meats and veggies in open, refrigerated sections, but in Mexico, shoppers can get their foods from closed refrigerators like how we would find milk and eggs inside a Texas store.
This, to me, made the H-E-B in Mexico feel more modern and spacious.
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Check-out area at the H-E-B Valle Alto in Monterrey.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
H-E-B Mexico shoppers bring their own bags
Last but certainly not least, was the check-out process. As an Austinite, I’m used to bringing my own bags inside an H-E-B to shop, but I was surprised to see the same was true in Mexico.
The store encourages shoppers to purchase reusable bags near the aisles of the register, which I would’ve done if I would’ve gotten more than a handful of snacks. Overall, I enjoyed my H-E-B Mexico trip and I recommend visiting one of the chain’s several stores there if you happen to be visiting Monterrey.