Barista Bar has been announced as the new sole sponsor of Belfast Royal Academy (BRA) 1st XV rugby team, for a minimum two-year contract.
The coffee and treats to go brand, developed by Henderson Foodservice, is available in over 440 SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO branded stores in Northern Ireland. Situated in close proximity to BRA, the brand opened Northern Ireland’s first Barista Bar Coffee Drive-Thru at SPAR Mallusk last year, following a multi-million-pound investment.
As part of the newly announced sponsorship, Barista Bar will feature heavily on all advertising and rugby kit branding of the 1st XV Rugby Squad kit. It will also have sole sponsor branding on the playing shorts, playing tops, warm up tops, kit backpacks, training tops, match balls and crash posts as well as a number of other opportunities across social, web, pitch side adverts, competitions, and events over the duration of the sponsorship.
Located in North Belfast, BRA is the oldest school in Belfast, founded in 1785 and holds over 1450 pupils. For almost 240 years, the school has held a reputation of academic excellence alongside prestigious sporting accolades. Former notable rugby players and alumni of the school include British and Irish Lions players Dr Jack Kyle and Iain Henderson alongside Ireland Internationals Rob Saunders, and most recently Tom Stewart.
Keavy O’Mahony-Truesdale from Henderson Foodservice, which owns Barista Bar, said: “We are delighted to announce our two-year sponsorship of BRA rugby. As a local brand in Northern Ireland, it is increasingly important for us to support and invest in our local community, making a difference and giving back to people who support our local stores. The fact that both our head office and BRA rugby pitches are both based in Mallusk, makes this an ideal opportunity and partnership and is one which we are very proud to be involved in.
“It is fantastic to see the young people in our local area get outdoors and have fun playing sport – it is great to be part of this and to support BRA and help the school continue their representation as a prestigious forerunner in education and rugby in Northern Ireland.”
Director of Rugby at Belfast Royal Academy, David Creighton, commented: “It is excellent to have Barista Bar on board as our partner for the school rugby teams over the course of the next two years. At BRA, we pride ourselves in transforming the lives of every pupil who attends our school, encouraging them to be the best version of themselves and one of the ways in which we do this is through sport. Funding and support from local businesses such as Barista Bar is invaluable in helping us to achieve this. Many Thanks again to Barista Bar for sponsoring us.”
Barista Bar is the premier coffee and treats to go brand developed by Henderson Foodservice, part of the Henderson Group in Northern Ireland. Barista Bar sells over 12 million cups per year and is available in over 440 SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores in Northern Ireland.