When you walk into an H-E-B today, it’s hard to imagine the store without beer and wine. But the truth is, until the mid-1990s, H-E-B didn’t sell much alcohol at all. That changed when David Duran jumped into role and built the alcohol category from the ground up — turning it into what is now a billion-dollar business.

In this first half of a two-part conversation, David shares the untold story of how one of the nation’s most respected grocery chains accelerated their role in the alcohol business, the discipline required to scale across hundreds of stores, and the lessons every brand needs to hear before stepping into the Texas market.

David is not only the architect of H-E-B’s alcohol category — he’s also a strategic advisor to Lone Star Beverage Brands (LSBB), bringing decades of retail and supplier-side experience to our team. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on the retailer’s perspective in Texas’s unique three-tier system and offers unfiltered advice for suppliers, distributors, and beverage entrepreneurs.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why H-E-B didn’t sell much alcohol until David built the category.
• The importance of execution across 100+ stores — and why that equals leverage.
• How buyers balance commodity brands with innovation to protect profitability.
• Why suppliers must bring solutions, not just new SKUs.
• The single most important lesson for brands entering Texas: it’s not about getting on the shelf, it’s about staying there.

Why It Matters

If you’re a beverage brand, distributor, or entrepreneur looking to grow in Texas, this episode is a masterclass in understanding how retailers think. David has been on the other side of the desk, making decisions that shaped the industry. His perspective is exactly what suppliers need to hear before pitching buyers or entering new markets.

🎙️ Guest: David Duran, Former Director of Alcohol Beverages at H-E-B & Strategic Advisor at LSBB
🎧 Hosts: Brad & Lori Foster, Co-Founders of Lone Star Beverage Brands
⏱️ Duration: ~35 minutes (Part 1 of 2)

👉 Don’t miss Part 2 of this conversation, coming Oct 2nd, where David dives even deeper into execution, distributor relationships, and what makes suppliers successful in Texas.

#LSBBPodcast #HEB #TexasBeverage #RetailExecution #SupplierSuccess #CategoryManagement #ThreeTierSystem

🎙️ Episode 2: “A Bottle in On = A Case in Off – Mike Gorman on Winning with Distributors”

In this episode, we sit down with beer industry veteran Mike Gorman, former General Manager of Glazer’s Beer and 30-year MillerCoors executive, to unpack the real truths about supplier success in today’s beverage landscape.

From his early days managing distributors to overseeing one of the largest beer operations in Texas, Mike shares unfiltered insights on:

🍻 Why consumer loyalty still drives everything
📦 How a bottle in the on-premise becomes a case in the off-premise
🔄 What distributors expect (and how most brands fall short)
🏆 The habits of the most successful suppliers
🧩 Why ease of business is your competitive edge
🌍 How brands actually travel between markets

Whether you’re a startup brewery or a seasoned supplier, this episode offers practical advice, hard-earned wisdom, and a rare look inside the distributor mindset.

In this premiere episode of the LSBB Podcast, we sit down with Christine Celis, founder of Celis Brewery and one of the most iconic names in Texas craft beer.

Christine shares the remarkable story of her family’s brewing legacy—how her father, Pierre Celis, revived the Belgian Witbier style and how she brought that tradition back to life in Austin, Texas. From the early days of U.S. craft beer to the challenges of running a modern brewery, Christine offers an honest, inspiring, and deeply personal perspective on what it takes to build and rebuild a brand in the ever-changing beer industry.

Plus, hear about her journey as a woman in brewing, her proudest moments at Lone Star Beverage Brands, and her advice for the next generation of craft leaders.