The whir of machines dominate the warehouse space housing Raquelitas in RiNo. But unlike many other factories, this one smells good as wet-milled corn gets pressed into tortillas, cut into chips, baked, fried, and packaged.
Founded by the De La Torre Family, since 1960 the Denver operation has made quality food for restaurants, retail, and, in some cases, festivals like DiningOut Events’ Top Taco. Today Raul De La Torre, his wife Mari, and a long-time family friend, Rich Schneider oversee the business. Over the last five decades Raquelitas has shifted to bring better products, local ingredients, and more flavors to the line up of tortillas, including bison tallow, jalapeño and cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomato.
While machines facilitate the work flow, humans inspect each step and a lot of the production is hands on. For example, employees work at the end of the chip lines to hand pack each box. Watchful workers shove cornmeal into funnels, and each new product goes through a vigorous taste testing process.
Tortilla History
While Raquelitas dominates Denver’s tortilla scene now, in the beginning founder Salvador De La Torre started with a simple tamale shop in 1959. The main product at the time was to-go food with a side of bulk corn and flour tortillas. In 1974 the company, then called La Popular, expanded into an old factory at 3111 Larimer St., where the business still resides today. It was when Salvador’s son Raul De La Torre took over in the early 1980s that things really started to change. For example, the name. La Popular rebranded to Raquelitas, an homage to De La Torre’s daughter, Rachelle.
Nowadays the face, or really the mouth, of the company is Schneider, who has been so close to the family he refers to De La Torre as his brother. The two have that familiar rapport. Where Schneider wears loud shirts and works the marketing and public relations angle, De La Torre has a more stoic demeanor and runs the quiet business side of things. Between them stands Mari, De La Torre’s wife and the vice president of the company.
Raquelitas, a Local Favorite
Over the years the team has streamlined the process, adding new items, and constantly working on innovative products. For example, a few months ago the bison tallow tortillas came out, and Raquelitas made sure to give first tastes to icons in the industry including Holly Kinney, owner of The Fort in Morrison, and Justin Brunson, founder of Brunson Meat Co. (and former owner of River Bear American Meats and the restaurant Old Major). Raquelitas’ chips show up at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurants, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Reivers Bar and Grill, and more.
However, the place the most chips get consumed is 7-Eleven, that supermarket chain known not only for Slurpee ice drinks, but nachos too. To get into that convenience store chain, said Schneider, wasn’t an immediate win. Schneider simply waited for the product to speak for itself, and when the stores needed chips right away, Raquelitas was on hand to provide them. Turns out, added Schneider, that even though his chips cost more, the quality proved so good 7-Eleven ended up using less, therefore saving money.
Thoughtful Sourcing
To make these wonder chips each triangle quickly fries in Colorado Mills Sunflower Oil. The company chose this oil not only because it’s made locally, but it imparts a clean taste, giving the corn chips a lightness not often found in the category. Somehow the process also makes them strong and less likely to crumble along the way or when heaping a dollop of guacamole on top.
The sourcing helps too. All the corn used for Raquelitas chips and corn tortillas comes from Colorado. One of the company’s big growers is Bow & Arrow Farm on the Ute Mountain Reservation. To maintain relationships and quality, the team visits the corn fields at least two times a year. This allows them to both to check it out and give the farmers a taste of what the plant turns into. Schneider said he estimates the factory positively impacts around 750 families in the state, all thanks to the dedication to local work and products.
Where To Taste Raquelitas
It may surprise you how often Raquelitas goods pop up. For those who went to Top Taco this year or in years prior, you may have noticed most stands sported a logo and QR code for Raquelitas. In fact, almost all the tortillas used for the annual event comes from the small factory. The meat on said tacos is sponsored by Buckhead Pride, making the festival a surefire way to not only taste the bounty of Colorado taco trucks and restaurants, but local goods too.
Now there are even more chances to get Raquelitas products thanks to the recent launch of a retail window right at the factory. The shop runs Friday and Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. It’s the only way to get items such as large whole wheat wraps, 13-inch sun dried tomato with basil tortillas, chili-spiked corn chips, and more. With each bite remember you’re eating something that’s not just Denver old school, but helping the state as well.
