O.D McKee
Success Story
 

O.D McKee (creator of Little Debbie Snacks) Started with very humble beginnings. No one would have imagined the business he would eventually achieve back when he worked pulling corn for 50 cents a day, living in a tiny log house that had been built for slaves. His first job was selling Christian books door to door at age 16. He saved his money and started his first business raising chickens but his business was destroyed by a fire accident. In 1933 he became a baked goods salesman for Virginia Dare in Chattanooga. Then O.D. McKee began peddling snack cakes from the back of his 1929 Whippet car. Which gave him a desire to start his own snacks cake company. O.D McKee saved all his money to buy a small cookie shop but he didn't have enough money, so he had to pawn their only vehicle, the family truck for $200. O.D. and his wife Ruth worked hard and were able to eventually get their truck back from the pawn shop after making a small profit. The company continued to struggle to make profits. Money was so tight they had to sell their home and move into the back of the bakery. They used a bed sheet to separate the family's living area from the rest of the  bakery. Through years of hard work the company started to see real success after they decided to use a picture of McKee's 4 year old granddaughter, Debbie in play clothes and her favorite straw hat. The response was great, so they decided she should be the face of the snack company! The famous Little Debbie picture (in cowgirl outfit) was originally taken because her mom got a coupon in the mail for $1 off portraits at Olan Mills in 1960. Oatmeal Crème Pies, Swiss Cake Rolls, Nutty Bars and Honey Buns are all products sold under the Little Debbie brand. 

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McKee Foods Corporation has sold more than 157 billion Little Debbie snacks since the brand became available in 1960. Currently McKee Foods employs 5,800 people, and  has revenue of over 1 billion dollars a year. The McKee family has given millions of dollars to Charity, and are known for treating their employees like family. 

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 I Am a Success Story!

In Jesus Name!

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