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. You might know them best for brands like Little Debbie, Drake's Cakes, and Sunbelt Bakery. The company's main office is in Collegedale, Tennessee.
Contents
How It All Started
McKee Foods was started during the Great Depression by Oather "O.D." McKee and his wife, Ruth McKee. The Great Depression was a time in history when many people faced tough economic challenges. O.D. began by selling cakes from his 1928 Whippet car in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area.
To grow his business, O.D. bought a small bakery called Jack's Cookie Company. The bakery did well for a few years. O.D. wanted to expand even more, but his father-in-law did not agree with his plans. So, O.D. decided to sell his business and start fresh.
The McKees then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where O.D. designed a new bakery. After some time, they sold that bakery too. They moved back to Chattanooga in the early 1950s. This was because Ruth's brother, Cecil King, needed their help with his bakery. They decided to buy back the bakery and run it themselves. In 1962, King's Bakery was renamed McKee Baking Company.
In 1957, McKee Baking Company moved to Collegedale. Later, in 1991, the company changed its name to McKee Foods Corporation.
Leadership Changes
Ellsworth McKee, who is O.D. McKee's son, took over running the company. He retired from daily operations in September 2012. However, he still holds the important position of company chairman.
In 2013, McKee Foods announced they would buy the Drake's brand from Hostess Brands for $27.5 million. This deal included popular snacks like Ring Dings, Yodels, and Devil Dogs. A court approved this purchase in April 2013.
As of 2013, McKee Foods ships more than 900 million boxes of Little Debbie products every year. That's a lot of snacks!
Our Favorite Brands
Little Debbie
Little Debbie products are mostly cookie and cake-based dessert snacks. They come in many different kinds. Some of the most popular include Swiss Cake Rolls, Nutty Bars, Fudge Rounds, Cosmic Brownies, Zebra Cakes, and Oatmeal Creme Pies. You can find Little Debbie snacks in most grocery and convenience stores. They are sold in boxes or as single-wrapped items.
In 1960, O.D. and Ruth McKee decided to name a new product after their four-year-old granddaughter, Debbie. Today, that same Debbie, Debbie McKee-Fowler, is an Executive Vice-President and serves on the company's Board of Directors. The first picture of Little Debbie on the packaging was based on a black-and-white photo. Later in 1960, full-color pictures were used. An artist named Pearl Mann from Atlanta created the original color artwork. She made the little girl look a bit older, around 8 or 9 years old. The Little Debbie logo had small changes in 1985 and again in 2013.
The Little Debbie brand has also sponsored NASCAR racing teams since the 1990s. This includes the Wood Brothers racing team from 2006 to 2008. McKee Foods was founded by owners who are Seventh-day Adventists. Because of their beliefs, on the Sabbath (from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown), the Little Debbie logos are covered or removed from the race cars. Also, the crew wears clothes that do not show the Little Debbie brand.
Drake's
Drake's is a baking company known for its snack cakes. It used to be owned by Hostess. But in 2012, McKee Foods bought the Drake's brand. Drake's makes popular snacks like Ring Dings, Yodels, Devil Dogs, and coffee cake. Their mascot is Webster, a friendly male duck (called a drake) 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 products include many kinds of granola bars, fruit snacks, and cereals. They are known for their chewy granola bars.
Heartland Brands
The company used to sell granola cereals and pie crusts under the Heartland brand. McKee Foods bought this brand in 1998. It was used until at least 2018.
Bakeries
McKee Foods has bakeries in several locations across the United States:
