By Janel Esplin
Little Debbie, America’s number one selling snack cake is celebrating its 40th anniversary by reaching a major milestone this week.
McKee Foods, maker of Little Debbie snack cakes, announced it expects to sell their 12 billionth multi-pack carton of Little Debbie snacks sometime in the next few days.
That means more than 120 billion Little Debbie snack cakes have been sold since 1960.
McKee Foods CEO Jack McKee said, “If you stack all those snacks on top of each other, that adds up to nearly 1.9 million miles — enough to circle the Earth nearly 80 times.”
He said there are more than 50 varieties of snack cakes, from Nutty Bars and Oatmeal Creme Pies to Swiss Rolls and Fudge Brownies.
Jennifer Ruff, a junior from Boise, Idaho, majoring in nursing, said everyone seems to have a favorite Little Debbie. She said Nutty Bars top her list.
“I always ate them when I was growing up, and I still do,” Ruff said.
“Not only do they taste divine, you can’t beat the price,” she said.
According to McKee Foods Corporation, suggested retail prices range from 89 cents to $1.59 per carton containing eight to 12 individually wrapped snacks.
Nathan Hammond, a sophomore from Blackfoot, Idaho, majoring in mechanical engineering, said he was addicted to the snacks in high school.
“Every day I bought at least two or three Fudge Rounds for only 25 cents each. Little Debbie helped me make it through the day,” he said.
As part of the 40th anniversary celebration, hundreds of girls ages five to 10 competed in “Dress Up Like Little Debbie” contests May 28 in a total of 55 stores in 15 cities across America.
Winners from each city will receive savings bonds, a 40th anniversary Little Debbie Barbie doll and a case of Little Debbie snacks.
“We’re humbled by the fact that millions of Americans have welcomed Little Debbie into their homes for the past 40 years,” McKee said.
