Texans care deeply about brands that call the Lone Star State home. Here are the companies that were named the favorites.
DALLAS — Texans are deeply proud of homegrown brands.
From beer to ice cream to grocery stores, there are iconic Texas brands that have captured what it means to be a Texan, but which one is the state’s favorite? MarketBeat.com sought to answer that question, surveying 3,015 people to see which Lone Star brand shines big and bright deep in the heart of Texans.
Here are the brands that instill the most state pride in Texas.
5. Shiner Beer
Since 1909, Shiner has been brewing at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas — making it the oldest independent brewery in Texas. The company was founded by German and Czech immigrants, who could not find the type of beer they were accustomed to drinking in America.
The brand is known for a myriad of beers today, but the most iconic remains Shiner Bock — the brewery’s flagship brew. Now synonymous with Texas, Shiner Bock is emblematic of the German traditions of Central Texas.
4. Whataburger
Originally founded in 1950 in Corpus Christi, the orange and white A-frame burger chain is one of the most recognizable Texas brands. From patty melts to honey butter chicken biscuits, generations of Texans have eaten at the fast food chain (and probably stolen a table tent).
In recent years, Whataburger has been expanding into many states across the South, but the San Antonio-based chain remains a truly Texas brand.
3. Dr. Pepper
Created in a pharmacy in 1885, Dr. Pepper has grown from humble beginnings to one of the most popular sodas in America. Dr. Pepper was revolutionary from the start, purposefully differentiating itself from colas and root beers on the market.
The brand is based in Plano, Texas, but it first came to life in Waco, where a museum dedicated to the soda remains. Dr. Pepper may be an international hit, but its Texas roots still run deep.
2. Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s is by far the youngest brand on this list, officially being founded in 1982 in Clute, Texas, but it has skyrocketed into national fame. With fresh brisket, hundreds of gas pumps, rows of soda fountains, beaver nuggets, candied nuts, and just about anything else your heart desires, Buc-ee’s isn’t just a stop along the road for travelers — it is a destination.
Rumors of “the gas station to rule all gas stations” and “the best restrooms on the road” have spread far and wide across the U.S. — and so has the company. Buc-ee’s operates 69 locations across 11 states now, and even more are cropping up along interstates across the country.
It’s apparent: the beaver rules, and Texans agree.
1. Blue Bell
Surveyed Texans voted Blue Bell as their most-loved homegrown brand.
Opening as a creamery in 1907 in Brenham, Texas, Blue Bell has emerged as an iconic brand across the South. Despite only having regional availability, Blue Bell is one of the top-selling ice cream brands in the U.S.
Known for its iconic gold lid, Blue Bell has been a staple for birthdays and summer days in Texas. The brand is also revered for its variety of flavors. With iconic mainstay flavors like Dutch Chocolate, Homemade Vanilla and Moo-llenium Crunch and more experimental ventures like Oatmeal Cream Pie, Cookie Cake and Banana Pudding, Blue Bell has a cult following among Texans.
The company has produced such popular rotational flavors that it has launched an annual poll called The Great Scoop Revival, where customers can vote to bring back their favorite ice cream.