Whataburger's ketchup, mustard spread to H-E-B

Whataburger will launch into retail sales for the first time by bottling its popular line of condiments Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard making them available exclusively at all Texas and Mexico H-E-B stores this summer. Shown in the picture is Whataburger Fancy Ketchup. less Whataburger will launch into retail sales for the first time by bottling its popular line of condiments Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard making them available exclusively at all Texas and ... more Photo: Courtesy Photo Photo: Courtesy Photo Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Whataburger's ketchup, mustard spread to H-E-B 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Heinz may dominate the U.S. ketchup market, but H-E-B is betting Texas consumers will opt for a home-state favorite.

The grocery chain announced Tuesday that it would begin selling ketchup and mustard branded Whataburger, which like H-E-B is headquartered in San Antonio.

Starting this summer, the fancy and spicy ketchup varieties will be on H-E-B shelves in 20-ounce bottles and the original mustard in 16-ounce bottles.

H-E-B Group Vice President of Grocery Procurement Reade Ahrens called the joint effort "a natural fit."

"Both H-E-B and Whataburger are Texas institutions that have been serving customers for decades," Ahrens said in a statement.

The news did seem to cheer Jessica Mason.

"It's delicious - I'll buy it at H-E-B," the information technologist said as she munched on a cheeseburger and french fries at the Whataburger in the downtown tunnels.

"That's why I'm down here," she added. "I saw on Facebook that H-E-B would be selling it, and it made me think of Whataburger."

Bottled condiments will not be available for purchase at Whataburger restaurants at this time.

But Preston Atkinson, CEO of the burger chain, also announced that Whataburger's Spicy Ketchup will become a permanent condiment at all of its more than 740 restaurants in 10 states.

The company introduced the red jalapeño-infused condiment in January 2012.

"H-E-B aisles are about to include more Texas favorites," Atkinson said in a statement. "Our condiments have become nearly as popular as our famous burgers, and with so much customer demand to get their hands on our special ketchup and mustard in larger quantities, it was only logical to bottle them up and make them available first through such a well-respected retailer like H-E-B."

The grocery giant also plans to add another Whataburger-inspired product: a potato chip version of the Whataburger french fry, cut from potatoes and available in a 7.4-ounce bag.

At the downtown restaurant, lunch customer A.Z. Lewis, a petroleum engineer, professed her love for Whataburger ketchup.

"And I shop at H-E-B," she added, "so I will love it" in bottles.

Less enthusiastic was financial analyst Chris Johnson. For her, price will trump Texas pride.

"I think ketchups are pretty much the same," she said. "It would have to be a lower price than Heinz or Hunt's."