Legacy brands face a delicate balance between preserving tradition for the sake of the consumers who have long loved their products versus offering new products for expanding market share. Along with walking that line, deciding how to manufacture could make or break how best-selling products are made and distributed.

There are no easy choices or clear pathways for brands to know how to move forward. We spoke with Stephanie Stuckey, Chair of Stuckey’s Corporation, for insight on how Stuckey’s navigates efficient manufacturing while still staying true to their iconic products. 

Data-driven product decisions: "When deciding what products to keep, cut, or tweak, we look at three big factors: cost, profit potential, and brand identity," explains Stuckey. "Take the pecan log roll—it's the heart and soul of Stuckey's. It's what people know us for, it sells well, and the margins make sense. That's an easy 'yes.'"

Stuckey's made the move to bring manufacturing in-house for better quality control and ownership of the manufacturing pipeline. However, Stuckey’s has found that not every product merits in-house production. 

"For those labor-intensive, specialty items that don't pull their weight in sales, we've got two options: discontinue it—no need to hustle for low returns—or outsource it to a manufacturer who can make it more efficiently," Stuckey notes. "It's all about keeping the core strong while being smart about what stays in-house."