Swiss Rolls, 13 Ounce

The McKee story began during the Great Depression when young entrepreneur O.D. McKee started selling 5¢ snack cakes from the back of his 1928 Whippet. In 1934, he and his wife, Ruth, purchased a small, failing bakery, using the family car as collateral. Facing tight finances, they had to set up a sheet near the back of the bakery for their living quarters. Despite years of great adversity, O.D. and Ruth's rare determination finally paid off in 1960 when they began selling the first family pack of baked goods, naming them after their granddaughter, Debbie. Around this time, the company started making a steady profit.

The bakery continued to grow but remained a family business. O.D. and Ruth's sons, Ellsworth and Jack, eventually took leadership positions, and today Ellsworth and Jack's children hold management roles, introducing the 4th generation of the McKee family to the business. McKee Foods stands as a living legacy of a young couple with a big dream, with the company's foundation rooted in the family's strong commitment to values.

In 1960, O.D. McKee was trying to find a catchy name for their new family-pack cartons of snack cakes. Inspired by a photo of his 4-year-old granddaughter Debbie in play clothes and her favorite straw hat, he decided to use the name "Little Debbie" and her image for the brand's logo. The first family pack, consisting of the original Oatmeal Creme Pie snack cake, was produced in August 1960.

Family packs were one of the first multiple-item baked goods available with individually wrapped products, costing only 49 cents per carton. By offering a quality product with outstanding value, Little Debbie quickly became a household name. Within 10 months of its initial introduction, more than 14 million cakes were sold. While the Oatmeal Creme Pie was the original Little Debbie snack cake, the product line expanded to 14 different varieties by 1964, including the ever-popular Nutty Buddy Wafer Bars and Swiss Cake Roll.

Since 1960, Little Debbie snacks have remained a value leader, selling for less than other leading brands while providing quality products. Currently, more than 75 varieties are available, and Little Debbie snacks can be found in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and on U.S. military bases worldwide.

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