“Little Debbie snack cakes were originally named for the founder of the company’s FOUR-YEAR-OLD granddaughter.”

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 5,000 AWESOME FACTS, FACT # 21 OF DECADENT DESSERTS

Little Debbie, or McKee Foods, was founded by Ruth and her husband, Oather Dorris, or O.D. during the height of the Great Depression. O.D. was selling snack cakes for 5 cents out the back of his 1928 Whippet. In 1934 they bought a failing bakery and struggled to make ends meet. The company finally took off in 1960. They started selling family packed baked goods. They named them after their 4 year old granddaughter, Debbie. (https://www.littledebbie.com/who-we-are) The very first cake was the Oatmeal Creme Pie, sold for 49 cents a carton.

For a brief time the moved to North Carolina, but returned and settled in Collegedale, Tennessee in 1957.

The original picture of Little Debbie was based in black and white. In 1960, artist Pearl Mann of Atlanta created the original color artwork. Per instructions she made Debbie look more like an 8 or 9 year old.

The company, McKee Foods, has sponsored NASCAR since the 1990’s. From Friday evening to Saturday evening, all company logos are taken down or hidden. This is because they are Seven Day Adventists and follow the Sabbath. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKee_Foods)

Little Debbie cakes are available in 50 states, and have remained leaders since 1960 with 75 different varieties.

Debbie, now Debbie McKee-Fowler, still is involved with the company. She now serves as Executive Vice President and serves on McKee’s Foods Board of Directors.

The most popular snack is the Fudge Round. In 2020 74.24 million Americans consumed Little Debbie, making them the number 1 snack cake in America.

Unfortunately, the Fudge Brownie with walnuts on top will be discontinued.