190 Brands Started in Texas Covering 1843 to 2019

Texas is famous for its wide open spaces, larger-than-life characters, and—perhaps surprisingly—a remarkably rich roster of homegrown companies. From humble sugar mills in the 1840s to today’s cutting-edge tech and lifestyle brands, Lone Star State entrepreneurs have continually reshaped industries across the globe. Join us on a whirlwind tour through the eras and innovations that have defined Texas business history.

Brand Name	Location, Year	Description
Imperial Sugar Company	Sugar Land, 1843	One of America’s oldest sugar refiners, pivotal to Sugar Land’s growth and still a leading supplier of refined sugar.
Pioneer Flour Mills	San Antonio, 1851	Dairy cooperative that markets milk, butter and cheese products throughout Texas.
Borden	Galveston, 1857	Renowned dairy and food producer, famous for Eagle Brand condensed milk and later Dannon yogurt.
Pendery's	Fort Worth, 1870	Local butcher shop and provisioner that grew into a neighborhood grocery staple.
Kimberly-Clark	Plano, 1872	Global personal–care company, inventor of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers.
Justin Boots	Spanish Fort, 1879	Legendary western-boot maker whose handcrafted footwear is sold worldwide.
Sealy Mattresses	Sealy, 1881	Industry leader in mattresses, best known for the Posturepedic line.
Lucchese Bootmaker	San Antonio, 1883	Premium western-boot artisan catering to rodeo stars and fashion customers alike.
Pearl Beer	San Antonio, 1883	Iconic Texas lager originally brewed by Pearl Brewing Company.
Lone Star Beer	San Antonio, 1884	“The National Beer of Texas,” beloved regional lager.
Dr Pepper	Waco, 1885	One of the oldest sodas in America, created at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store.
Lammes Candies	Austin, 1885	Family-owned Texas confectioner famous for its Texas Chewie pecan pralines and classic Southern-style sweets.
Morrisson’s Corn Kits	Denton, 1886	Pioneered convenient cornmeal kits for home cooks.
Wolf Brand Chili	Corsicana, 1895	Early canned chili brand that popularized Texas-style chili nationwide.
Collin St Bakery	Corsicana, 1896	Famous for fruitcakes and confections sold across the U.S.
Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company	San Antonio, 1896	Brought canned chili con carne and Mexican-style staples to American grocers.
O. B. Macaroni Company	Fort Worth, 1899	One of Texas’s first pasta manufacturers.
TEXACO	Beaumont, 1902	Texas Company became a major oil producer, later merged into Chevron.
H-E-B	Kerrville, 1905	Privately held supermarket chain serving millions in Texas and northern Mexico.
Blue Bell Creameries	Brenham, 1907	Regional ice-cream maker adored for flavors like Homemade Vanilla.
Neiman Marcus	Dallas, 1907	Luxury department‐store innovator known for upscale fashion and legendary catalogs.
Mrs Baird’s Bread	Fort Worth, 1908	Pioneering sliced-bread bakery delivering to households statewide.
Falfurrias Butter	Falfurrias, 1909	South Texas creamery supplying butter to grocery chains.
Shiner Beer	Shiner, 1909	Spoetzl Brewery’s flagship craft lager with nationwide distribution.
Tony Lama	El Paso, 1911	Iconic cowboy-boot maker founded by a Sicilian immigrant.
American Hat Company	Houston, 1915	Manufacturer of felt and straw hats for men and women.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts	Dallas, 1919	Hospitality powerhouse founded by Conrad Hilton.
Tandy Leather	Fort Worth, 1919	Retailer of leathercraft supplies, patterns and kits.
Seaport Coffee	Beaumont, 1921	Regional coffee roaster and distributor.
TexJoy Seasonings	Beaumont, 1921	Blend specialist for Gulf-Coast culinary traditions.
Dickies	Fort Worth, 1922	Workwear brand famous for durable pants, shirts and overalls.
M.L. Leddy’s	San Angelo, 1922	Family-owned grocery chain serving West Texas communities.
USAA	San Antonio, 1922	Financial services for military members and their families.
Wright Bacon	Vernon, 1922	Premium cured-meat producer.
James Coney Island	Houston, 1923	Hot-dog stand turned regional quick-serve chain.
Zales	Wichita Falls, 1924	Jewelry retailer specializing in diamonds and watches.
Nocona	Nocona, 1925	Western-boot maker leveraging local leather craftsmanship.
Best Maid Pickles	Fort Worth, 1926	Dill-pickle producer supplying grocery shelves nationwide.
Haggar Clothing Co.	Dallas, 1926	Men’s apparel brand best known for trousers.
7-Eleven	Dallas, 1927	Convenience-store pioneer originally called “Tote’m.”
Resistol Hats	Dallas, 1927	Maker of cowboy and fedora hats.
Owens Country Sausage	Richardson, 1928	Smoked-sausage brand.
Texas Instruments	Dallas, 1930	Semiconductor giant that invented the integrated circuit.
Atkinson Candy	Lufkin, 1932	Fudge and taffy confectioner.
Bell Helicopter	Hurst, 1935	Helicopter manufacturer now part of Textron.
Shipley Do-Nuts	Houston, 1936	Doughnut chain famous for its glazed rings.
Big Red	Waco, 1937	Cinnamon-flavored cream soda.
Olson-Stelzer Boots	Henrietta, 1937	Custom western-boot maker.
Academy Sports + Outdoors	San Antonio, 1938	Sporting-goods retailer.
Greenberg Smoked Turkeys	Tyler, 1938	Holiday-turkey producer.
Stripes	Corpus Christi, 1936	Convenience-store chain in Texas and Louisiana.
El Chico Cafe	Dallas, 1940	One of the first sit-down Mexican restaurants in Texas.
New Braunfels Smokehouse	New Braunfels, 1943	Artisan smoked-meats purveyor.
Ro-tel	Elsa, 1940	Canned tomatoes with green chiles, key in Tex-Mex cooking.
Frontier Burger	San Antonio, 1947	Drive-in burger stand that became a local chain.
Igloo	Katy, 1947	Maker of popular coolers and ice chests.
Luby's	San Antonio, 1947	Cafeteria-style restaurant chain.
Pace Foods	San Antonio, 1947	Salsa pioneer founded by David Pace.
Cavenders Western Wear	Tyler, 1948	Apparel and boot retailer for western lifestyles.
Jim's Restaurant	San Antonio, 1949	Family-style pancake house chain.
Kiolbassa Smoked Meats	San Antonio, 1949	Renowned for its beef sausages.
Talk O’ Texas	San Angelo, 1950	Traveler’s canteen chain.
Whataburger	Corpus Christi, 1950	Beloved Texas burger chain known for its five-and-up patties.
Circle K	El Paso, 1951	Convenience-store chain now global.
Church's Chicken	San Antonio, 1952	Fried-chicken quick-serve chain.
Interstate Batteries	Dallas, 1952	Automotive-battery distributor.
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q	San Antonio, 1953	Fast-casual chain famed for barbecue.
James Avery Jewelry	Kerrville, 1954	Handcrafted religious and fashion jewelry.
Bolner’s Fiesta Spices	San Antonio, 1955	Spice-blend company named for Chester Bolner.
Frazer Ambulance	Houston, 1956	Medical-transport service.
Mistake Out Company	Dallas, 1958	Manufacturer of correction fluid (“white-out”).
Frito-Lay	Plano, 1961	Snack-food powerhouse formed by Frito and H.W. Lay merger.
Six Flags	Arlington, 1961	Theme-park operator.
EDS	Dallas, 1962	IT-services trailblazer founded by Ross Perot.
Fred’s Fish Fry	San Antonio, 1963	Seafood quick-serve chain.
Mary Kay	Dallas, 1963	Cosmetics direct-sales company.
Gatti’s Pizza	Stephenville, 1964	Pizza-parlor chain.
Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm Chili	Terlingua, 1964	Packaged chili from the famed cook-off veteran.
Julio's Corn Chips	San Antonio, 1966	Tortilla-chip brand.
Steak & Ale	Dallas, 1966	Casual-dining steakhouse.
Southwest Airlines	San Antonio, 1967	Low-cost carrier that revolutionized air travel.
Taco Bueno	Abilene, 1967	Fast-casual Tex-Mex chain.
La Quinta Inns & Suites	San Antonio, 1968	Hotel chain.
Stubb's BBQ	Lubbock, 1968	BBQ restaurant and sauce brand.
Vending Nut Co.	Fort Worth, 1968	Bulk snack-nut distributor.
Jimmy Dean Sausage	Plainview, 1969	Breakfast-sausage brand, now part of Tyson.
Albert’s Hot Mexican Sauce	Kilgore, 1970	Spicy sauce brand.
Schlotzsky’s	Austin, 1971	Sandwich and pizza quick-serve chain.
Weed Eater	Houston, 1971	Outdoor-power equipment (string trimmers).
Half Price Books	Dallas, 1972	New-and-used book retailer.
Taco Casa	Fort Worth, 1972	Tex-Mex quick-serve chain.
Michaels	Dallas, 1973	Arts-and-crafts superstore.
The Magic Time Machine	San Antonio, 1973	Themed dinner-theater restaurant.
Black Eyed Pea	Dallas, 1975	Southern-comfort café.
Chili’s	Dallas, 1975	Casual-dining Tex-Mex and burgers.
Chorizo de San Manuel	San Manuel, 1975	Artisanal chorizo sausage maker.
Bennigan's	Dallas, 1976	Irish-pub themed casual-dining chain.
San Antonio Shoemakers (SAS)	San Antonio, 1976	Handcrafted men's and women's shoes.
Jason’s Deli	Beaumont, 1978	Sandwich, salad and soup quick-serve chain.
Taco Cabana	San Antonio, 1978	Patio-style Tex-Mex chain.
The Container Store	Dallas, 1978	Organizational-products retailer.
At Home	Schertz, 1979	Home-décor superstore.
Fuddruckers	San Antonio, 1979	Gourmet-burger chain.
Schlitterbahn	New Braunfels, 1979	Water-park pioneer.
Spring Creek BBQ	Richardson, 1980	All-you-can-eat barbecue chain.
Whole Foods Market	Austin, 1980	Organic-and-natural grocery leader.
BeautiControl	Carrolton, 1981	Skincare direct-sales company.
Hell On The Red	Telephone, 1981	Local hot-sauce brand.
Neighborly	Waco, 1981	Franchisor of home-service brands (Mr. Rooter, Mr. Electric).
Buc-ee’s	Clute, 1982	Travel-center empire famed for restroom cleanliness and snacks.
Chuy’s	Austin, 1982	Tex-Mex restaurant known for funky décor.
Compaq	Houston, 1982	PC-maker later merged into HP.
Dave & Buster’s	Dallas, 1982	Dining and arcade entertainment chain.
Micrografx	Richardson, 1982	Early graphics-software developer.
Dixie House	Dallas, 1983	Southern-comfort buffet.
Keller-Williams	Austin, 1983	Real-estate franchise giant.
La Madeleine	Dallas, 1983	French café-bakery chain.
Marble Slab Creamery	Houston, 1983	Hand-mixed ice-cream franchise.
American Eagle Airlines	Fort Worth, 1984	Regional carrier (now Envoy Air).
AMTECH	Carrollton, 1984	Aerospace and defense contractor.
Cinemark	Plano, 1984	Movie-theater chain.
CompUSA	Addison, 1984	Computer-retail chain (defunct).
Dell Technologies	Austin, 1984	Global PC and IT-services leader.
Fossil	Richardson, 1984	Fashion watches and accessories.
GameStop	Dallas, 1984	Video-game retailer.
Taco Palenque	Laredo, 1984	Tex-Mex quick-serve chain.
Blockbuster Video	Dallas, 1985	Video-rental juggernaut (mostly defunct).
Enron	Houston, 1985	Energy-trading giant that collapsed in 2001.
Carrabba’s	Houston, 1986	Italian-American casual-dining chain.
Twang	San Antonio, 1986	Chili-powder seasoning brand.
Apogee Software	Garland, 1987	PC-game developer (later 3D Realms).
Aunt Aggie De’s Pralines	Sinton, 1987	Gourmet praline candy maker.
Cyrix Corporation	Richardson, 1988	Microprocessor designer.
Perot Systems	Plano, 1988	IT-services firm acquired by HP.
Romano's Macaroni Grill	Leon Springs, 1988	Casual Italian eatery.
Rocketbuster Boots	El Paso, 1989	Custom western-boot maker.
Rudy’s BBQ	Leon Springs, 1989	Barbecue chain with music venues.
Bahama Buck’s	Lubbock, 1990	Shaved-ice dessert chain.
Alamo Candy Co.	San Antonio, 1991	Chocolate and confections.
Saltgrass	Houston, 1991	Steakhouse under Landry’s.
Funimation	Flower Mound, 1994	Anime dubbing and streaming.
Layne’s Chicken	College Station, 1994	Fast-casual chicken chain.
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.	Houston, 1994	Texas’s oldest craft brewery.
Wingstop	Garland, 1994	Chicken-wing chain.
Pluckers	Austin, 1995	Wing bar and sports pub.
VRBO	Austin, 1995	Vacation-rental marketplace.
Xochitl	Irving, 1995	Rice-chip snack brand.
Alamo Drafthouse	Austin, 1997	Dinner-and-movie theater chain.
Circle E Candles	Fredericksburg, 1997	Hand-poured soy candles.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka	Austin, 1997	Small-batch craft vodka.
Envoy	Irving, 1998	Regional airline (American Eagle affiliate).
Rackspace Technology	San Antonio, 1998	Managed-cloud services provider.
Gearbox Software	Frisco, 1999	Video-game developer (Borderlands).
Tiff’s Treats	Austin, 1999	Warm-cookie delivery service.
Kendra Scott	Austin, 2002	Jewelry and lifestyle brand.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop	Fort Worth, 2003	Counter-serve Tex-Mex.
Indeed	Austin, 2004	Job-search engine.
Johnny Dang & Co.	Houston, 2004	Grillz and custom jewelry.
Woot	Carrollton, 2004	Daily-deal ecommerce pioneer.
Dripping Springs Vodka	Dripping Springs, 2005	Craft vodka distillery.
P. Terry’s	Austin, 2005	Burgers-and-shakes quick-casual chain.
Twin Peaks	Lewisville, 2005	Sports-lodge restaurant and bar.
Laredo Taco Company	Laredo, 2006	Tex-Mex quick-serve.
Torchy’s Tacos	Austin, 2006	Creative tacos and queso.
Yeti	Austin, 2006	Premium coolers and drinkware.
Hat Creek Burger Company	Austin, 2008	Breakfast-taco and coffee chain.
BuzzBalls	Carrollton, 2009	Frozen malt-based cocktails in a ball.
Dude Perfect	Frisco, 2009	Sports-stunt YouTube phenomenon.
HTeaOh	Amarillo, 2009	Bottled iced-tea brand.
Nulo Pet Foods	Austin, 2009	Premium pet-food company.
Deep Eddy Vodka	Austin, 2010	Flavored craft vodkas.
Hopdoddy's	Austin, 2010	Gourmet burger and shake bar.
Howler Bros	Austin, 2010	Outdoor-lifestyle apparel.
Solo Stove	Austin, 2011	Smokeless fire pits.
Velvet Taco	Dallas, 2011	Eclectic taco joint.
Jack Mason	Dallas, 2012	Men’s watches and leather goods.
Yellowbird Hot Sauce	Austin, 2012	All-natural chili sauces.
Bumble	Austin, 2014	Women-first dating and networking app.
Sendero Provisions Co.	Waco, 2014	Handcrafted snack purveyor.
Siete Foods	Austin, 2014	Grain-free Mexican-American foods.
MINT DISCS	Austin, 2015	Specialty disc-golf equipment.
Poppi	Dallas, 2015	Prebiotic soda brand.
Rambler Sparkling Water	Austin, 2015	Canned sparkling water.
RTIC Outdoors	Cypress, 2015	Coolers and drinkware challenger to Yeti.
Tecovas	Austin, 2015	Direct-to-consumer western boots.
Waterloo Sparkling Water	Austin, 2017	Premium flavored sparklers.
Ranch Rider Spirits	Austin, 2019	Craft distillery specializing in agave-based spirits.

19th-Century Pioneers: Plantations, Preserves, and Provisions

The story begins in 1843 with the founding of Imperial Sugar Company in Sugar Land. What started as a modest refinery grew into one of America’s oldest and most respected sugar producers, giving its namesake town both sweet success and global renown. By mid-century, San Antonio’s Pioneer brand dairy and Galveston’s Borden (famous for Eagle Brand condensed milk) were laying the foundations for Texas’s food-production legacy.

As the frontier expanded, so did entrepreneurial spirit. Fort Worth’s Pendery’s butcher shop (1870) and Denison’s Great Western Foods (1872) began feeding growing communities, while Plano’s Kimberly-Clark (also 1872) would eventually leap into personal-care innovations like Kleenex and Huggies. By 1879, Justin Boots was stitching what would become globally coveted western footwear—proof that Texas craftsmanship could cross oceans.

Early 20th Century: Oils, Outlets, and Outfits

The dawn of the 20th century brought oil booms and department stores. Beaumont’s TEXACO (1902) rode the Spindletop gusher into one of the world’s largest oil companies, while in Dallas that same year, Neiman Marcus began its ascent as a luxury-fashion icon.

Meanwhile, everyday Texans flocked to:

H-E-B (1905), the family-owned grocer whose stores now sprawl across Texas and northern Mexico.
Mrs Baird’s Bread (1908), pioneering pre-sliced loaves that redefined convenience.
Shiner Beer (1909) and Pearl Beer (1883), regional lagers that became beloved tokens of Texan pride.

Workwear and leisure both got a boost: Fort Worth’s Dickies (1922) outfitted laborers nationwide, and Dallas’s Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1919) ushered in modern hospitality.

Mid-Century Staples: Sodas, Salsas, and Service

By the 1940s and 50s, Texas had stamped its mark on fast food and soft drinks. Waco’s Dr Pepper (1885) solidified its place among America’s oldest sodas, while San Antonio’s Pace Foods (1947) introduced salsa to dinner tables everywhere. Postwar growth sparked new chains:

Whataburger (1950), Corpus Christi’s now-iconic burger joint.
Church’s Chicken (1952), bringing Southern-style fried chicken to the quick-serve world.
Circle K (1951), which would grow into one of the globe’s largest convenience-store brands.

Banks, batteries, and baked goods flourished too: USAA (1922) serving military families, Interstate Batteries (1952) powering vehicles coast to coast, and Fort Worth’s Best Maid Pickles (1926) adding a tangy twist to sandwiches everywhere.

The Rise of Recreation and Retail: Theme Parks to Tech

As Texans looked for fun, entrepreneurs answered the call:

In 1961, Arlington became home to Six Flags, pioneering America’s thrill-ride parks.
Plano’s Frito-Lay (1961) merged savory snack lines under one roof.
San Antonio’s Southwest Airlines (1967) disrupted air travel with a low-fare model that now carries millions.

The 1970s and 80s saw both casual-dining staples and electronics powerhouses emerge:

Chili’s (1975) and Taco Cabana (1978) made Tex-Mex a national craving.
Whole Foods Market (Austin, 1980) birthed the modern organic grocery movement.
Compaq (Houston, 1982) and Dell Technologies (Austin, 1984) put “Made in Texas” PCs on desks worldwide.

At the same time, specialty retailers like Dallas’s The Container Store (1978) and Fort Worth’s American Eagle Airlines (1984) diversified the state’s business portfolio.

21st-Century Innovators: Apps, Artisans, and Ambitious Startups

Today’s Texas scene is as vibrant as ever. Austin’s Indeed (2004) and Bumble (2014) lead in online services; Frisco’s Dude Perfect (2009) became a YouTube phenomenon; and Round Rock’s Gourmet Texas Pasta (2017) crafts artisanal noodles with farm-fresh ingredients.

But legacy brands continue evolving:

Blue Bell Creameries (1907) still scoops its Famous Homemade Vanilla.
Schlitterbahn (1979) expands water-park thrills.
Yeti (2006) turned rugged coolers into a cult classic.

From Tito’s Handmade Vodka in Austin to RTIC Outdoors in Cypress, Texas entrepreneurs keep balancing tradition with disruption—whether it’s grain-free tortillas, precision fire pits, or prebiotic sodas.

A Texan Tradition of Tenacity

What unites these over 150 years of companies is a blend of grit, community focus, and a knack for spotting opportunity—qualities as big as the state itself. Whether refining sugar cane, bottling soda, stitching cowboy boots, or coding tomorrow’s apps, Texas businesses have shown that a spirit of innovation knows no bounds.

As you drive through small towns or soar above skyscrapers, don’t be surprised to see a big, bold “Made in Texas” label. It’s more than geography; it’s a legacy of vision, resilience, and that unmistakable Texan pride.