The Certification
El Bandido Yankee, the additive-free, ultra-premium tequila brand co-founded by entrepreneur Jim Bob Morris, has received Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) network. The designation, reflecting Morris's Cherokee heritage, places El Bandido Yankee among a small group of Native American-tied spirits brands to hold this nationally recognized credential.
For on-premise buyers and procurement teams at hotel groups, restaurant chains, and managed hospitality accounts, MBE certification carries practical weight. Major corporations, government agencies, and institutions across the country rely on NMSDC-certified suppliers to meet supplier diversity commitments—meaning El Bandido Yankee now qualifies for procurement pipelines that were previously off the table for the brand.
Why It Matters for Operators
Dan Seals, President and CEO of Chicago MSDC, framed the credential plainly: "Certification is more than just a label; it's the gold standard trusted by major corporations, government agencies, and institutions across the country." For beverage directors and purchasing managers navigating supplier diversity mandates—increasingly common across hotel brands, casino operators, and contract foodservice—that gold-standard status translates directly into easier vendor approval.
Morris brings institutional credibility to the category. His broader portfolio includes Morris Packaging and Heartland Supply, both among the largest certified minority-owned companies in their respective sectors. That operational track record matters to procurement teams evaluating supply chain reliability alongside diversity criteria. "This recognition honors my Cherokee heritage while fostering new opportunities to strengthen supplier diversity by building meaningful corporate partnerships for future generations of minority entrepreneurs," Morris said.
The Brand's Current Footprint
El Bandido Yankee currently offers four expressions of additive-free tequila crafted in Amatitán, Jalisco from 100% Blue Weber agave, distributed across 22 states. The additive-free positioning has become an increasingly important differentiator in the premium spirits segment, resonating with the same hospitality buyers who have driven growth in craft and transparent-sourcing categories across beverage industry trends.
The brand's MBE status arrives as corporate supplier diversity programs continue expanding their reach into beverage alcohol, a category that has historically lagged behind food in diverse-ownership representation. Operators building or refreshing their spirits programs—particularly those tied to national hotel or restaurant groups with formal DEI procurement targets—now have a certified, multi-state supplier to evaluate. For a deeper look at how certification programs are reshaping purchasing decisions across the on-premise sector, see restaurant beverage program coverage.
This story was developed with reporting support from Food & Beverage Magazine.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
