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THE Western Bulldogs will today announce international company Mission Foods as their major sponsor.
Although the Dogs remained tight-lipped last night, it is understood Mission has signed on for three years, with the possibility of an extension to five.
The deal with the world's largest supplier of tortilla products is worth $1.5 million a year.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose refused to buy into speculation, saying only that negotiations were ongoing.
The Herald Sun has learned that the Dogs have beaten two other clubs for Mission Foods' signature.
The news is a major body blow to Melbourne, which has also been courting Mission for several weeks.
The Demons, still without a replacement for Primus Telecom, recently delivered a major presentation to Mission at the MCG, hoping to woo the company.
It is understood Essendon was also keen to forge a partnership with Mission.
Melbourne and Richmond are now the only clubs still in the hunt for a major backer.
Mission, which is based in the US and Mexico, specialises in tortillas and tacos. It is embarking on a strong push to increase its profile and distribution reach in Australia.
The company, which started in 1949, has factories across the Americas, Britain, Holland, Italy and Asia. Its sales extend to the US, Canada, throughout Central America and into England, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. It has lucrative deals to provide wraps to fast food giants McDonald's and KFC worldwide.
The Bulldogs' six-year agreement with Lease Plan ended on December 31.
Mission coming on board is a major cause for celebration at Whitten Oval.
The club had been searching for a replacement sponsor for several months amid the fallout from the global economic crisis.
The Dogs will now have a fresh logo on their guernseys in time for the start of the NAB Cup next month.
Throughout the sponsorship search, the Dogs made it clear they would not be discounting their brand despite the economic environment.
"We've come too far and achieved too much to discount our assets," Bulldogs president David Smorgon told the Herald Sun last month.
Melbourne's five-year sponsorship deal with Primus wound up at the end of the season and the Demons had put a lot of energy into luring Mission.
The wooden spooner was yesterday coming to grips with Mission's decision to favour the Dogs.
Finding another sponsor is high on the list of responsibilities for chief executive Cameron Schwab.
Schwab told the Herald Sun this week the Demons were still confident of finding a backer and were looking long-term.
"I can't stand here and say it's not an issue, because clearly it is, but we are looking at it as a problem that is not insurmountable," Schwab said.
"Melbourne is about rebuilding on a long-term basis."
What are Mission Foods? Click here.
, sorry dees 
. Suffer in ya jocks bombers.
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