Stephen Caldwell Reinvented the Tater Tot – And Fed the Homeless Doing It. A Great Risk It! or Regret It! Comeback Story.

As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show – Wellness Wednesday Edition

Move over French fries, there's a new crispy craving in town — and it’s doing more than just satisfying your snack attack. It’s feeding schoolkids, shaking up convenience stores, and making waves nationwide. Meet Stephen Caldwell, founder of Stuft Tots™, the world’s first patented stuffed shredded potato bite.

These aren’t your average tots. Think crispy outside, gooey inside — filled with real Wisconsin cheese, veggies, or meats — all under 60 calories, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made with just five clean ingredients.

Stephen’s inspiration? A cheese-stuffed hashbrown he tasted at a catering event in Brazil that gave him goosebumps. Unable to find anything like it back home in Portland, he and his wife Lory turned their kitchen into a lab (with help from Oregon State’s food incubator) — and later, their tot mission into a movement.

But this isn’t just a food story. It’s a comeback story.

After losing ‘everything’ in a business betrayal, the Caldwell’s literally started from scratch. They spent 15 months hand-making 2,000 tots a week — simultaneously feeding the homeless in partnership with the Oregon Food Bank. Alongside their two daughters, they turned hardship into purpose and passion.

Fast forward to today! Th