In the throes of the Great Depression, a humble snack once priced at just 5 cents has transformed into one of the top-selling products for Little Debbie, maintaining its popularity over the span of more than 90 years.
Pioneering the line of Little Debbie snack cakes, the Oatmeal Creme Pie was first created in 1935 by O.D. McKee. His entrepreneurial journey began with a small operation selling baked goods from the rear of his 1928 Whippet, as recounted on the company’s official site.
According to their historical records, in 1934, the McKee family took a significant step by acquiring a bakery in the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, using their family automobile as financial leverage.
“Faced with financial hardships, the family resorted to hanging a sheet at the back of the bakery to carve out a living space,” the company’s history notes.
By the 1960s, Little Debbie, named in honor of McKee’s granddaughter, had firmly established itself as a beloved brand in the American snack food market.
Oatmeal Creme Pies are “the snack that started it all!” Little Debbie’s website proclaims.
“Oatmeal Creme Pies have been satisfying families since 1960 as the very first snack baked under the Little Debbie brand name,” the website’s product description says. “Whole grain oats, molasses and irresistible crème filling combine to create this classic treat.”
The original family packs of baked goods contained the Oatmeal Creme Pie and were sold for 49 cents a carton.
“After its initial introduction, more than 14 million cakes were sold within 10 months,” Little Debbie’s website says. “While the Oatmeal Creme Pie was the original Little Debbie snack cake, there were 14 different varieties by 1964, including the ever-popular Nutty Buddy wafer bars and Swiss Cake Roll.”
Little Debbie has rolled out various iterations of the Oatmeal Creme Pie, including Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches and Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream Bars. Home bakers have also created many copycat versions of the iconic snack.
Today, McKee Foods, still based in Tennessee, describes itself as “America’s largest family bakery.”
The company produces more than 75 Little Debbie products. Oatmeal Creme Pies, along with Swiss Rolls and Nutty Buddy wafer bars, remain the company’s most popular items. More than 200 million cartons of these three products are sold each year.
Little Debbie continues as a family-run company, and Little Debbie herself is still involved. The fourth generation of the McKee family is learning the business, and Debbie McKee-Fowler serves as chair of the McKee Foods Board of Directors.
The company is “honored” by the success of the Oatmeal Creme Pie and the brand’s other products, McKee Foods said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Our success ultimately means we are delivering a product that people genuinely love,” the company said. “The Oatmeal Creme Pie, for instance, has been a part of family gatherings and shared moments with friends for over 60 years. Being family-run keeps us grounded in our core values.”
Oatmeal Creme Pies have stood the test of time, according to McKee Foods, because the flavor appeals to many different demographics and generations.
“The spiced cookies are nostalgic of a home-baked oatmeal cookie, and the sweet crème middle adds extra whimsy to the product for younger consumers. It’s a little treat that isn’t polarizing.”
A customer recently relayed a story to McKee Foods that the company said captures the essence of how the Oatmeal Creme Pie is often associated with fond memories. The customer would eat an Oatmeal Creme Pie every time he went fishing with his grandfather.
“Today, every time he eats an Oatmeal Creme Pie, it instantly brings back the good memories of those fishing trips,” the company said. “That powerful sense of nostalgia and comfort is what makes our products so much more than just a snack for so many people.”