The Queensland Rugby Union has today announced a two-year extension with La Banderita as a partner and supplier of premium tortillas to the QRU and Queensland Reds.
Managing Director Stu Richardson said the partnership aligns well for La Banderita being involved with both the Reds and at the grassroots level of rugby.
“It's great to be both a partner and supplier for Reds Rugby. We know the playing squad, coaches and staff at the Reds enjoy eating our delicious La Banderita tortillas. And for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, we are really excited to extend our partnership with the Reds”," Richardson said.
"The Reds and their fans are definitely the right market for us...rugby mums, dads and kids who love rugby also love our La Banderita tortillas.
"This relationship with the Reds aligns well with our core demographic and also takes us into the grassroots level where we look to support as a company with numerous community clubs and charities. With rugby, we have ties and support to Wests Rugby Club, BBC Rugby, Queensland Rugby and the Reds."
Richardson's enthusiasm for rugby is longstanding from his own playing days as a lock with the Wests Bulldogs in the 1990s and in the Bulldogs juniors before that.
"I know the positive sides of rugby and the community it builds," Richardson said.
"The Reds are really going places with a brand of footy that is exciting and this two-year partnership takes us through to Rugby World Cup year in 2027."
La Banderita is the flagship brand of OLÉ Mexican Foods Inc which has grown from a husband and wife team making tortillas in Atlanta in 1988 to become the largest family-owned tortilla maker in the USA. The Moreno family still own and run the business today, with that same passion and dedication, and are still making the best tortillas on the market.
Since La Banderita first partnered with the QRU in 2022, the company has grown significantly over the last few years to now have over 850 retailers nationally selling La Banderita tortillas.
From the big boys like Woolworths and Costco, to hundreds of independent retailers, including gourmet markets, butchers and fruit shops, right through to independent grocers like IGA and Harris Farm, La Banderita is well ranged in Queensland and throughout Australia.
While Mexican cuisine is at the company's heart, Aussies have followed the lead of TV chef Justine Schofield who has created over 100 delicious recipes with La Banderita and even adapted a few Aussie favourites like the La Banderita Sausage Roll recipe.
"Justine has been a great ambassador for us," Richardson said.
"We now have a library of La Banderita recipes on our website www.labanderita.tv starting with the brekky bacon-and-egg burrito right through to more sophisticated Mexican favourites like Al Pastor and Birria.
"We have a sense of fun at La Banderita with those recipes, staff enjoying nights at Reds games and the hundreds of mini rugby balls that Reds players throw into the crowd after full-time at Suncorp Stadium.
"I know the Reds players do a great job with passing the La Banderita balls to kids and autographing them because of the footy photos and 'thank-yous' that pop up on my phone.
"Queensland is one of La Banderita's strongest markets and the footprint continues to grow."
QRU Head of Commercial and Consumer Pete Fairbairn said: "We greatly value our relationship with Stu, Caitlin Kent and the whole La Banderita team and we are looking forward to the next two years with La Banderita.
"The authentic quality that is their trademark fits very well with our own values, and our tortilla-loving playing group will be especially delighted with this news."
