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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
"Is this a great country or what?" I know we have heard that expression so often that it has become a cliché. But after my visit with Lulu and Jose Chaparro, I found myself repeating that statement and truly meaning it!
Lulu loves to make tamales. Using an old family recipe, she would make small batches of tamales in her mother-in-law's kitchen and sell them to field workers. The tamales were very popular, and the demand necessitated three moves to larger facilities. I was impressed as I sat with Jose and Lulu in Chaparro's Tamales' 10,000-square-foot office, manufacturing and warehouse facility in Sunset.
Jose is Lulu's brother-in-law. They work as a team to constantly improve their product and market share. Jose's brother designed and built special steamers that cook 900 tamales per container. Each batch takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, and the plant has the capability to produce 25,000 tamales each day.
Satisfied customers include Wal-Mart, Associated Foods, U. S. Food, and Sysco Food Services. Many restaurants buy directly from the factory and Lulu told me that a portion of the company's business comes from private parties, weddings, fiestas and traditional Latin celebrations such as bautizos, or baptisms, and Quinceañeras.
I asked Jose why the company has grown so quickly. He said it's because Chaparro's makes everything from scratch and uses only all-natural ingredients and top-quality, grade A meat. Lulu says this gives the tamales a wonderful taste that has caused a steady increase in sales.
Jose and Lulu are so proud of Chaparro's Tamales' great success. Rightfully so!
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
Chaparro's Tamales 325 W. 1300 North Sunset, UT 84111 801-309-1594 www.chaparrostamales.net
