Little Debbie is a popular brand of snack cakes and sweets that has been around since the 1960s. The brand is named after one of its founders, O.D. McKee’s granddaughter, Debbie. Little Debbie snacks are known for being affordable and tasty treats, with a wide variety of options including Nutty Bars, Oatmeal Creme Pies, Cosmic Brownies, and more. But before all of those beloved snack cakes, what was the very first treat to bear the Little Debbie name? Let’s take a closer look at the history and origins of this nostalgic snack brand.
The Founding of McKee Foods Corporation
To understand Little Debbie’s first product, we have to go back to the founding of McKee Foods Corporation in 1934. The company was started by O.D. McKee and his wife Ruth in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a small bakery selling 5 cent snack cakes under the brand name “McKee.”
O.D. McKee had lost his job at Jack’s Cookie Company during the Great Depression. He decided to put his baking skills to work by launching his own business. At first, O.D. and Ruth baked goods in their home and sold them door-to-door. They eventually were able to open a small bakery and deliver their cakes to stores via O.D.’s old Whippet sedan.
Early Growth and Expansion
By the 1950s, McKee Foods had grown into a successful regional bakery supplying snack cakes throughout the Southeast. They continued expanding their distribution reach and variety of baked goods over the next decade.
Important milestones:
| 1934 | McKee Foods founded by O.D and Ruth McKee |
| 1950s | Expanded distribution throughout the Southeast |
| 1957 | Opened the company’s first modern bakery in Collegedale, TN |
It was during this period of rapid growth in the late 1950s that the origins of Little Debbie can be traced.
The Birth of the Little Debbie Brand
In 1960, McKee Foods launched a new brand of snack cakes aimed at the mass market rather than grocery stores. They named the brand after a familiar face – O.D. McKee’s 4-year-old granddaughter, Debbie.
Little Debbie’s smiling face started appearing on packaging and advertising materials along with the slogan “Uncommonly Good.” The affordable price and kid-friendly branding struck a chord with customers and the brand quickly took off.
So what was the very first treat to launch the enormously successful Little Debbie line?
The First Little Debbie Snack Cake
The original Little Debbie product that kicked off the brand in 1960 was the oatmeal creme pie. The classic snack cake features two soft oatmeal cookies with a marshmallow creme filling in between. They were an immediate hit.
Interesting facts about Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies:
- Sold for just 15 cents per package when they were first introduced
- Were inspired by a Scottish shortbread cookie recipe
- Feature a vanilla creme filling between the oatmeal cookies
- Still one of the brand’s top selling items today
The instant popularity of oatmeal creme pies as Little Debbie’s first release paved the way for many more iconic snacks over the coming decades.
The Expansion of Little Debbie’s Snack Cake Offerings
The successful launch of oatmeal creme pies was only the beginning for Little Debbie. Over the next several years, many more snack cakes were introduced and the brand continued gaining devoted fans.
Here is a timeline of some of Little Debbie’s major product launches through the 1960s:
| 1960 | Oatmeal Creme Pies |
| 1964 | Star Crunch |
| 1966 | Fudge Rounds |
| 1967 | Nutty Bars |
| 1968 | Honey Buns |
Many of these original Little Debbie treats like Star Crunch and Nutty Bars are still customer favorites today. The brand was finding great success with its strategy of offering affordable, quality snack cakes in fun packaging.
Continuing Innovation
Innovation has been a key to Little Debbie’s growth and longevity over the decades. While staying true to many classic treats, they’ve introduced new varieties and flavors that reflect changing consumer tastes.
For example:
- Cosmic Brownies launched in the 1970s during the space craze
- Zebra Cakes brought stripey snack cakes to the masses in 1985
- The 1990s saw the debut of muffins and fruit snacks
- Birthday cake treats and seasonal flavors were introduced more recently
Staying creative with new products while always offering customer favorites has kept Little Debbie a beloved brand.
Little Debbie Today
From those first cartons of oatmeal creme pies sold in 1960, Little Debbie has grown into a snack empire. The brand now includes over 160 product varieties and is sold across the United States and in over 40 countries worldwide.
Some fun facts about Little Debbie today:
- Over 1 million snacks produced every day
- Best-selling items are still Oatmeal Creme Pies and Nutty Buddy wafer bars
- Swiss Rolls and Honey Buns also rank among top sellers
- Produced in 5 bakery facilities in the U.S.
While the brand has grown exponentially, Little Debbie snacks are still affordably priced between $1-$3 per package, appealing to budget-conscious shoppers. O.D. and Ruth McKee would likely be amazed at how their humble bakery has expanded into a snacking powerhouse.
Conclusion
When you trace the origins of Little Debbie snacks, it all started back in 1960 with the release of oatmeal creme pies. That first carton of soft oatmeal cookies sandwiching sweet creme filling launched a brand that would become America’s top budget-friendly snack cake. Innovation and changing with the times has kept Little Debbie relevant into its seventh decade. However, classics like their original oatmeal treat are still cherished by generations who grew up enjoying these sweet, affordable snacks. Little Debbie has certainly come a long way since that first bakery in Chattanooga, but their commitment to providing customers comforting food and memories endures.