Photo contributed by McKee Food Corps. Seven years after buying the Drake's line of snacks from the bankrupt Hostess bakery, McKee Foods is bringing back one of Drake's original and most popular snacks - the Drake's Mini Pound Cakes.
Similar to how McKee Foods developed its Little Debbie cream-filled snacks from larger cakes made in the past, Drake's moist, golden-brown cake squares grew out of one of the company's first products, the pound cake.
"We're excited about the return of a classic variety to the Drake's line-up," said Chip Stenberg, Drake's associate brand manager. "Drake's Mini Pound Cakes are great for individual snacking or as the foundation of an easy-to-make dessert, coupled with fresh fruit or the topping of your choice."
Drake's Mini Pound Cakes will be available in supermarkets, convenience stores and other retailers throughout the Northeast. In Chattanooga, Drake's products are sold in a few grocery stores and at McKee's bakery store in Collegedale.
"Our whole goal since we bought Drake's from the Hostess bankruptcy was to try to return to the market shelves what the Drake's fans were missing," McKee spokesman Mike Gloekler said today.. "As we have gone through the years re-introducing Drake's products, we have worked diligently to not just put the product by name back on the shelves but to make sure we have the product the way people remember it. We've taken some time and as some of our capacity has opened up on our facilities, we've worked to get the recipe right and to make sure we have what the Drake's fans remember."
As with all Drake's products, Mini Pound Cakes are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union.
Drake's founder, Newman E. Drake, established the brand in 1896 selling sliced pound cake in New York City.
McKee Foods Corp., headquartered in Collegedale, is the nation's largest privately owned snack bakery with annual sales of nearly $1.4 billion.