Local Man's Taco Plates Hit Harps Shelves

Fayetteville inventor has products made locally

STAFF PHOTO DAVID GOTTSCHALK Hugh Jarratt of Fayetteville prepares a plate of tacos Tuesday for his son McCall, 5, while using the Taco Plate during lunch with his wife Nicole at El Sol Mexican Restaurant in Fayetteville. Jarratt is the inventor of yhe Taco Plate and has signed a deal with Harps Grocery to carry the product made in Prairie Grove. Some of the condiments on the table are served in another Jarratt invention, a bowl called the Double Dipper.
STAFF PHOTO DAVID GOTTSCHALK Hugh Jarratt of Fayetteville prepares a plate of tacos Tuesday for his son McCall, 5, while using the Taco Plate during lunch with his wife Nicole at El Sol Mexican Restaurant in Fayetteville. Jarratt is the inventor of yhe Taco Plate and has signed a deal with Harps Grocery to carry the product made in Prairie Grove. Some of the condiments on the table are served in another Jarratt invention, a bowl called the Double Dipper.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Hugh Jarratt likes tacos but got fed up with trying to fill shells that constantly tipped over.

That's why he created the Taco Plate four years ago. The slotted plastic plate is designed to hold three tacos upright. The plates also feature divided compartments for side dishes.

"Most of my inventions are born out of impatience," Jarratt said.

The Taco Plate recently hit the shelves at Harps stores, and Jarratt, of Fayetteville, hopes to become a Walmart supplier.

He made his first Taco Plate sale at the War Eagle Fair and has been selling his wares through various mail-order outlets, gift stores and gourmet cooking shops since 2010. His company, Jarratt Industries, also sells the goods on its website, but Jarratt said he always encourages people to buy from a local retailer when possible.

The dishwasher-safe plates sell for about $4 each.

"Here at Harps, we are a local company, and anytime we have an opportunity to help someone get a business started, we help," said Shannon Kincade, director of general merchandise for Harps. "You have to love that entrepreneurship spirit."

Inventing is a side gig for Jarratt, who spends his days as an attorney for Lindsey Management.

It's also a family affair. His wife, Nicole, has her own creation, the Double Dipper, for sale. The Double Dipper is a bowl split into two sides. They sell for $3 each.

The couple's 5-year-old son, McCall, has even been known to help with packing and testing products.

The shipping process was done in the family's carport until earlier this year when they handed off those duties to PolyTech Molding in Prairie Grove. The local injection molding company has produced every Taco Plate sold.

"We would not be in business without PolyTech," he said. "They've helped us with every step from design to getting the right procedures in place."

Jarratt used Floam, a moldable children's craft product, to make his first prototype.

John McCutcheon, PolyTech co-owner, said the company produced about 100,000 plates each of the past two years. He bought PolyTech with Steve Booth just more than a year ago.

"He's a creative person and has a growing company," McCutcheon said of Jarratt.

The plates come in seven colors, including white. PolyTech keeps about 2,000 of each color in stock at all times.

Jarratt said having the manufacturing plant so close creates a short turnaround for orders. He said he also knows he will get a high-quality products.

"If I had them made in China I would have so much money tied up in inventory and would have to worry about quality," he said. "Business is so much better when you have a relationship with them."

Jarratt said the company is profitable so far but declined to give any details.

The family has faced challenges, including having to fight twice to protect its patent. Jarratt said one price they pay for gaining some national exposure is other companies copying his design.

Taco Plates were featured on a "Today Show" segment on hot new kitchen products in 2012 and was listed as one of 10 best products made in the U.S. in a recent edition of "Taste of Home."

Jarratt hopes his ability to claim "Made in the USA" helps him get his foot in the door at Walmart. He applied to take part in the retailer's first "Open Call Summit" on July 8. That's where Walmart invites suppliers to pitch ideas that involve products made in the United States, said Katie Cody, Walmart spokeswoman.

She said businesses that applied for the summit by the June 6 deadline will learn by Tuesday if they are invited to make a pitch. She said Walmart is expecting more than 500 suppliers to be on hand.

"We are trying to work with as many people as we can," Cody said.

Part of those conversations will include finding out if the businesses are ready to make the leap into all Walmart stores.

"If they aren't ready to work at that level, we can work with them on local store products," Cody said.

She said walmart.com and Sam's Club will also have buyers at the supplier fair.

McCutcheon said he'll attend the summit with Jarratt and help him pitch his idea.

"It's one thing to get a product on the shelf, but it's another thing to be able to get it off," he said.

PolyTech runs 24 hours a day, six days a week and has room to expand if increased product demand requires it, McCutcheon said.

Jarratt hopes to give PolyTech more business with some other products he has on the market, including licensed Razorback cooking utensils, oven mitts and plates.

"It's been neat to see something we designed catch on and become popular," he said.

NW News on 06/13/2014

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