The Keebler Elves, long known for baking and selling delicious cookies, have begun cooking and selling soul food instead, in order to keep up with market trends and customer demands.
“We were struggling just to pay the rent on the Hollow Tree by selling only cookies,” says, Keebler spokesman and chitterlings and hot sauce supervisor, Bud. He goes on. “Yeah, we were facing some tough economic headwinds with the traditional cookie line we had been offering. Add to that, rising overhead costs like Elf magic liability insurance, diabetes related health care costs, and several, recent, sexual harassment settlements. We had no choice than to augment our product line.”
Initially, the product line reflected a mix of cookies and soul food, such as Graham Cinnamons and catfish platters, and Frosted Animal Cookies and Black-eyed-peas with a side of grits.
“Those combo platters did not go over well,” asserts, Bud. “So we just decided to borrow from the famous Sylvia’s of Harlem’s menu and add our own touch to it.”
And the results have been incredible. Sales are up 68 percent year- to -date. Bud is secretive about what the added touch is that makes their soul food so popular. Again, Bud. “Let’s just say it’s a love of cooking, baking and a heavy dose of Elf magic that hits the sweet spot that our customers love.”
Bud vehemently rejects the rumors that the added Elf magic consists of MSG mixed with the crushed bone powder of former D.C. Mayor, and honorable crackhead, Marion Barry. Bud looks out from the Hollow Tree at the long line of customers, smiles confidently, continues. “We’ve come a long way from fudge striped pigs feet and neck bones with coconut sprinkles.”