Do You Know The Next Little Debbie?

by Hanna Raskin, Posted Jan 13th 2010 @ 3:00PM

Flickr, pwbaker

A bakery that first became profitable when it found a four-year-old to grace its snack cake cartons is on the hunt for another Little Debbie.

O.D. McKee, who sold nickel cakes out of the back of his car after graduating from college, opened a Chattanooga bakery with his wife Ruth in 1934. But their products didn't catch on until 1960, when McKee took a supplier's suggestion and borrowed his granddaughter's name and image for a new line of 12-cake packs. The McKees sold 14 million oatmeal cream pies that year.

To celebrate 50 years of Little Debbie products, the company is staging a lookalike contest. But spokesman Mike Gloekler is quick to stress the winner's picture won't replace the famous sketch of Debbie McKee Fowler, now an executive with Little Debbie.

"We are going to feature her photo on the back of some cartons," Gloekler says. "We haven't decided which; probably oatmeal cream pies or Swiss cake rolls."

The winner will also receive a $5000 scholarship; Semi-finalists will have to make do with a case of snack cakes.

There are some restrictions governing the contest, which the original Little Debbie will help judge: Entrants must be between the ages of four and eight. But since looks only count for 30 percent of a competitor's score (poise, charm, dress and the ability to capture Little Debbie's essence are the other considerations), the contest isn't limited to little freckle-faced white girls.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with race," Gloekler says. "We're looking for America's sweetheart."

Filed Under: Events
Tags: chattanooga, contest, LittleDebbie, lookalike

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-18-2010 @6:50AM deb said... What in the world has this got to do with the article?
I am so tired of this bulls%&t !

Searching for a Little Debbie is a great idea, the response should be overwhelming.
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1-18-2010 @1:16PM ?????? said... I don't see what your talking about....they only list 6 responses on 1 page here.....wonder if everyone doesn't see all the responses?

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1-18-2010 @7:18AM `big D said... i think monica pushed the wrong button or she is nuts
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1-22-2010 @7:02PM mary said... i agree with you Deb . this nonsense has with the ads on all aol message boards. has gotten out of hand '
Now to be on topic , i love the little Debbie brand. esp the banana cakes with the whipped filling, but they are hard to find..,& oooh so yummeeee
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1-18-2010 @10:43AM Rikki said... I love little Debbie, her products were all i ate when i was recovering from brain cancer surgery, so every year on my survival of the operation, i pig out on little debbie for the whole day. my own special once a year treat
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1-18-2010 @11:24AM Bogey said... Keep the one you have. Always trying to change things!
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1-18-2010 @11:40AM Susie said... The snack cakes are great but do they make a fruit filled cake like apple or cherry or lemon. I have just discovered little debbie so please let me know, ty
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1-19-2010 @6:08PM PAMom said... Little Debbie does make fruit pies.. They are in little individual boxes. Hard to find though. They are .75 but sometimes on sale for 2 for a $1.00 They have apple, cherry and lemon and maybe a chocolate, but I can't swear to that. They are really good. If you want to find them, contact McKee Foods (the maker of Little Debbie) and they can probably help you find a store where you can purchase them. Good luck.

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1-18-2010 @1:32PM Russ said... I think you should get the Debbie from "Debbie Does Dallas". She really loved those cream filled thingies!! BWAHAHAHAHAH!
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1-18-2010 @1:33PM Homemaker said... Little Debbies are junk compared to how they used to make them. Cake
has no taste and the icing has a wax/greasy taste. Pure crap. The only
way they could make a cheaper product is buy dipping cardboard into
lard. Zebra cakes use to have 12 per box now it's 8 and the price has
gone up 40%. Do the math 4 less cakes and 40% increase equals to
over 100% price increase during the last couple of years. I think
you'll need more than a pretty picture to revive this brand!

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1-18-2010 @3:31PM Debbie said... the contest isn't limited to little freckle-faced white girls.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with race," Gloekler says. "We're looking for America's sweetheart."

To have the above two statements is so idiotic and not called for. They want to boost their sales to another demographic as they are not doing well in the Western cultures evidently.

I am White. My name is Debbie and their snack cakes are gross and taste like perservatives. Won't buy them.
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