Little Debbie
...th individually wrapped products. The cost per carton was only 49 cents. By combining a quality product with outstanding value, Little Debbie® quickly became a member of America's households. After its initial introduction, more than 14 million cakes were sold within 10 months. while the Oatmeal Creme Pie was the original Little Debbie® snack cake, there were 14 different varieties by 1964 including the ever-popular Nutty Bars® Wafer Bars and Swiss Cake Roll. Since 1960, Little Debbie® products have remained a value leader. Currently, they sell for less than other leading brands while providing quality ingredients. More than 75 varieties are available with suggested retail prices ranging from 25 cents to $2.99. Little Debbie® products are available in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. After some time they sold the Charlotte plant and made plans to retire, but they moved back to run the Chattanooga bakery in the early '50s when Cecil King, Ruth's brother, was in poor health and needed the help. They decided it would be best if they bought the bakery back from Ruth's brother and ran it themselves. Mrs. McKee was always an equal partner, and she and O.D made the same salary. In the early years, O.D. went on the road to expand sales. Ruth managed the plant and the office. She showed a gift for knowing when to buy ingredients and when to ship the final product. McKee Foods would not be where it is today if it hadn't been for her calm head and cool wisdom. O.D. was a typical entrepreneur, a man full of big ideas. Ruth wanted to know there was going to be some payback for those ideas. Ruth died in 1989, and O.D. passed away (O...