McKee Foods facts for kids
.png) |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. (1934) |
| Founders | O.D. McKee, Ruth McKee |
| Headquarters | Collegedale, Tennessee, U.S. |
|
Key people
|
Mike McKee, Rusty McKee, Angie McKee, Ellsworth McKee, Jack McKee, Cole Smith, Debbie McKee-Fowler |
| Products |
|
| Brands | Drake's Cakes, Fieldstone Bakery, Little Debbie, Sunbelt Bakery |
| Revenue |  $836 million (2021) |
|
Number of employees
|
6,800 (As of September 2021[update]) |
McKee Foods Corporation is a family-owned American company that makes popular snack foods and granola. It is based in Collegedale, Tennessee. McKee Foods is known for brands like Drake's Cakes, Fieldstone Bakery, Little Debbie, and Sunbelt Bakery.
Contents
History of McKee Foods
How McKee Foods Started
The company was started in 1934 by Oather Dorris "O.D." McKee and his wife, Ruth McKee. This was during the Great Depression, a time when many people had little money. O.D. began by selling cakes from his car in the Chattanooga area. He wanted to grow his business, so he bought a small bakery called Jack's Cookie Company.
The bakery did well, but O.D. still had big plans. He decided to sell that business and start fresh. The McKees then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and opened a new bakery.
Moving Back to Chattanooga
After some time, they sold the Charlotte bakery. In the early 1950s, they moved back to Chattanooga. Ruth's brother, Cecil King, needed help with his bakery. So, the McKees bought back the bakery, which was renamed McKee Baking Company in 1962.
In 1957, McKee Baking Company moved to Collegedale, Tennessee. Later, in 1991, the company's name changed to McKee Foods Corporation.
New Leadership and Growth
Ellsworth McKee, O.D. McKee's son, took over running the company. He retired from daily operations in 2012 but remained the company chairman.
In 2013, McKee Foods bought the Drake's brand. This included popular snacks like Ring Dings, Yodels, and Devil Dogs. This helped McKee Foods grow even more. By 2013, McKee Foods was shipping over 900 million cartons of Little Debbie products every year!
McKee Foods Brands
McKee Foods makes many different kinds of snacks under several well-known brands.
Little Debbie Snacks
Little Debbie is McKee Foods' most famous brand. It offers many kinds of cookies and cakes. Some of the most popular Little Debbie snacks include Swiss Cake Rolls, Nutty Bars, Cosmic Brownies, Zebra Cakes, and Oatmeal Creme Pies. You can find these snacks in most grocery and convenience stores. They are sold in boxes or as single-wrapped items.
The Story Behind the Name
In 1960, O.D. and Ruth McKee decided to name a new product after their four-year-old granddaughter, Debbie. The picture of Little Debbie on the snack boxes was based on a black-and-white photo. An artist later created the full-color image. Debbie McKee-Fowler, the original Little Debbie, now works as an Executive Vice-President for the company.
Little Debbie and Racing
The Little Debbie brand has sponsored NASCAR racing teams since the 1990s. The company's owners are Seventh-day Adventists. Because of their beliefs, on the Sabbath (from Friday evening to Saturday evening), the Little Debbie logos are covered or removed from the race cars. The crew also wears different clothes without the logo.
Where Little Debbie Snacks are Sold
As of late 2022, Little Debbie cakes are no longer sold in US military commissaries or in Canada. The company explained that it became too expensive to meet the rules for selling in those places.
Drake's Cakes
Drake's is another well-known snack cake brand. It was originally an independent company. McKee Foods bought Drake's in 2013. Drake's makes popular snacks like Ring Dings, Yodels, Devil Dogs, and coffee cakes. Their mascot is Webster, a friendly duck wearing a chef's hat.
Fieldstone Bakery
Fieldstone Bakery makes snacks like whole grain items, granola, pastries, and cookies. These products are often found in schools and healthcare facilities.
Sunbelt Bakery
Sunbelt Bakery offers a variety of granola bars and cereals. They are known for their chewy granola bars.
McKee Foods Bakeries
McKee Foods has bakeries in several locations across the United States:
