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Jim Lee
UWRT 1100-100
Miss Jamie L. Burgess
October 17, 2014
Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies: Beyond the Smile
The universal law of growth can be explained in a simple statement: what is a giant was
once a dwarf. This does not pertain to fantasy or fiction but points out a metaphorical meaning.
Before money and fame had struck the individual, he/she required the time to invest in his/her
skills and/or products. For example, O.D. McKee faced difficult times when the Great
Depression was at its peak. Accordingly, through the years, O.D. McKee perfected his Oatmeal
Creme Pies and achieved a breakthrough in what would later become the foundation of Little
Debbie (Who We Are). However, as the following analyses will expound, success includes a
greater realm than just invention/innovation and inventor/innovator; success must also stem from
advertisements. A successful advertisement will uphold its products if the following prerequisites
are satisfied: audience, appeal, and price.
All advertisements have targets - targets whom are considered the audience. Audience is
particular and should be aimed toward the appropriate crowd. In the case of the Oatmeal Creme
Pies food packaging, the following groups are "prohibited from the consumption of certain
foods" as stated by Kosher Labeling: diabetics, allergic individuals, and select religious groups.
Located near the bottom right-hand corner of the Oatmeal Creme Pies food packaging is a
Kosher symbol (the said symbol looks similar to K D). The Kosher symbol informs the
audience that the Oatmeal Creme Pies are acceptable by Jewish laws, and the superscript "D"
indicates that the pies include dairy products (Kosher Labeling).

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The Kosher symbol is a white font and may have been placed in a red zone because the
dietician/nutritionist involved in the Oatmeal cover design intended to inform the audience of
potential hazards. As with the complementary colors of black and white, red and white
complement each other as well, which results in words becoming visibly noticeable. The
artist/designer, however, may have intended for the Kosher symbol not to take up unnecessary
space required for further advertising. The symbol was, thus, placed on the bottom right-hand
corner along with miscellaneous information (Little Debbie).
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was a French lawyer, politician, and gastronomic
enthusiast who once quoted, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are" (Slande). An
inelegant spin-off of the said quote would be "you are what you eat." Little Debbie Oatmeal
Creme Pies should then represent a food that not is not only quantitative but qualitative as well.
For example, if one were to inspect a handful of advertisements of successful businesses, it
would be evident that appeal has become the top priority.
On the front cover of the Oatmeal food packaging, there are three Oatmeal Creme Pies
that have been centered onto the package and have been clearly enlarged. The soft, oatmeal
cookies have sandwiched the white cream causing the cream to ooze out of place (Little
Debbie). Given the image of three seemingly delicious treats and their exaggerated size and
fresh-out-of-the-oven looks. it can be concluded that Little Debbie intends to advertise and
entice the audience. Furthermore, the fact that the pies have been centered will instinctively pull
the audience's attention towards it.
The front cover contains much more appeal than simply three giant pies. The key
components to the appeal include an illustration of Little Debbie and her name-brand signature, a
special promotion, the quantity of the product and, especially, its overall usage of color.

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O.D. McKee found Little Debbie in 1960 and the business has continued to flourish
(Oatmeal Creme Pies). In a mathematical sense, Little Debbie has existed for over half a
century, and given the fast-paced lifestyle of today's world, it would not be impossible for Little
Debbie to be known nationwide. Thus, by including the name brand of Little Debbie onto the
front cover of the packaging it provides an appealing sense of legitimacy, quality and, ultimately,
innocence.
As if the three giant pies were insufficient, there is a special promotion smacked in the
center of the cover. The promotion features a 2-week road trip inside a luxurious RV as the
winners travel around the nation (Oatmeal Creme Pies). Now, the promotion has been placed
alongside the giant pies; therefore, the attention of the audience has henceforth shifted towards
the promotion. Then, along with the seemingly delicious Oatmeal Creme Pies and winning an
all-expense-paid road trip, the appeal of the advertisement skyrockets.
Quantity and quality is similar to a fairy tale. Both are wished by most but one is
typically granted. The balance of the two is difficult to maintain because one seeks to undermine
the other. And, yet, Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies has achieved the unachievable; one
Oatmeal Creme Pies food package contains "12-individually wrapped snacks" (Little Debbie
Oatmeal Creme Pies). Additionally, the picture of the three giant pies subsists in the minds of the
audience and enhances the concept of quantity and quality.
The American Flag has stood for freedom for as long as the United States has existed.
Red, white and blue are the national colors and will always remain red, white and blue.
Coincidentally, the usage of color on the front cover of the Oatmeal package is red, white and
blue as well. Those three colors are synonymous to patriotism - to freedom and trust - and
subconsciously draws in the audience much like a President attracting followers.

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As the audience can relate, the United States is experiencing an ongoing economic
regression and few have the finance to thrive in life. A dollar or two is powerful and should not
be forsaken. As a result, price has become an issue in everyday life. Excellent examples of cheap
but affordable products can be found in Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree (take
note that dollar has been included in the naming of each business).
Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies can be found in Family Dollar and is sold for $1.79
excluding tax in North Carolina (Little Debbie). $1.79 per se is relatively cheap, and the fact
that the first digit is "1" opens an option for the audience with low finance. If, however, one
package of Oatmeal Creme Pies were to be $3.00 or $5.00, the option would most likely
dissipate.

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Works Cited
Celeste, Slande. "Brillant-Savarin, Jean Anthelme." Internet Faq Archives (2014). Advameg, Inc.
Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
Kosher Labeling and Milk or Dairy Allergy. Kids With Food Allergies, Inc., 29 July 2012. Web.
6 Oct. 2014. <http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=100>
Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies. Advertisement. McKee Foods. 6 October 2014. Food
Packaging.
Oatmeal Creme Pies. Little Debbie and McKee Foods, 2014. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
<http://oatmealcremepies.littledebbie.com/www>
Who We Are: A Family Bakery. Little Debbie(R) and McKee Foods, 2014. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.littledebbie.com/www/docs/5/who-we-are>