Hostess Twinkies to be no more

It was announced they will shut down their plants and lay off workers promptly.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 42670.html

I must admit I am not a fan of the products and long grown away from them but as I child I remember buying them. (If confronted with a snowball, I would peel the white outside, throw it away and just eat the cake part.) Still it is an icon and sad to see it go. Others may cheer from a variety of view points, such as a lessening of junk food and sugar.

Perhaps they will go the way of Fannie May, Archway, M. Lennell, and Frango Mints, Jays chips. I believe they have all been revived after some kind of "restructuring" or relocation.

I find it unlikely that such venerable brands as Twinkies, Ho-Ho's, Ding Dongs, Sno-Balls, Zingers (acquired in the merger with Dolly Madison) and others will end up in the dumpster behind the factory. Most likely, so other food conglomerate will pick up the rights to those names, and not only won't the snack cakes go away, we'll see Twinkies cookies, Ho-Ho's breakfast cereal, Sno-Ball shelf-stable milkshakes...

I haven't followed the financial issues, I'd guess that the Dolly Madison merger didn't help; the competition with salty snacks (Flaming Hot Cheetos and Takis anyone?) and the general economic downturn were contributors. I have noticed in my rare indulgences that the quality of the chocolate on the Ho-Ho has declined in recent years.

Hi,

They had labor contract issues from bakers to delivery truck drivers. I remember reading once about their delivery system: instead of one truck visiting a location with a variety of products. It was many trucks visiting with a small range of products. What kept them locked in this delivery system was their labor contracts. Thus a Wonder bread truck only delivered Wonder bread and Hostess trucks only Hostess, though they were the same company.

I've already heard of people buying out the stores of the last Twinkies, Snowballs and Ho-Hos (or is it Ding Dongs?).

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

They had labor contract issues from bakers to delivery truck drivers. I remember reading once about their delivery system: instead of one truck visiting a location with a variety of products. It was many trucks visiting with a small range of products. What kept them locked in this delivery system was their labor contracts. Thus a Wonder bread truck only delivered Wonder bread and Hostess trucks only Hostess, though they were the same company.

I've already heard of people buying out the stores of the last Twinkies, Snowballs and Ho-Hos (or is it Ding Dongs?).

Regards,

I actually have a good friend who is a Hostess driver and this is exactly the way it is set up. He's worked for them for many, many years and has had this hanging over his head for a long time. I feel really bad for him and his coworkers. Thinking I may need to have him grab me a box of Snowballs (the only Hostess product I ever liked) for nostalgia purposes.

Hi,

I happen to like the cupcake with cream inside and the ho-ho, both were chocolate with the cream.

I haven't bought them in years, because I like and fear them. I feel the same way about chocolate covered raisins, I just like them soooo much. I can't stop once I begin eating them.

It will be s surprise if these brands completely disappear, though it will be a while before we see them again.

At the State Fairs, we have a trivia contest. Last year there was a question about the iconic colorful bubbles on the Wonder Bread package. They were inspired by a hot air balloon event around Indianapolis in the 1920's.

Regards,

I've heard rumblings that Mondelez International (the sweets & snacks company spun off from Kraft Foods) is thinking about acquiring Hostess. If so, and they can restructure the problematic labor contracts, it would be a great pickup, and right in the new Mondelez wheelhouse. Irene Rosenfeld is a very smart cookie.

sundevilpeg wrote:Irene Rosenfeld is a very smart cookie.

I like how you did that

sundevilpeg wrote:I've heard rumblings that Mondelez International (the sweets & snacks company spun off from Kraft Foods) is thinking about acquiring Hostess. If so, and they can restructure the problematic labor contracts, it would be a great pickup, and right in the new Mondelez wheelhouse. Irene Rosenfeld is a very smart cookie.

Hi,

When you acquire a company via bankruptcy court, the purchaser is not tied to the prior labor contracts. You have a name, recipes and whatever assets you choose to acquire, a clean slate.

Glad to know there is likely a future for these products.

Regards,

These products represent the worst of processed sugar food.

I've heard rumblings that Mondelez International (the sweets & snacks company spun off from Kraft Foods) is thinking about acquiring Hostess. If so, and they can restructure the problematic labor contracts, it would be a great pickup, and right in the new Mondelez wheelhouse. Irene Rosenfeld is a very smart cookie.

Much more in the wheelhouse of Grupo Bimbo, which bought the Entenmann's business a couple of years ago and has extensive fresh bakery distribution.

But someone will buy it.

rickster wrote:But someone will buy it.

This is so obvious that I'm finding it hard to believe that the media appear to take seriously the notion that Twinkies and Ho-Hos are disappearing. (Separate from the issue of whether the jobs are disappearing, which appears to be the case.)

It's reminding me of the end-of-the-world hub-bub that surrounded the Berghoff's "closing."

The only scenario I would add to "someone will buy it" is that the present owners will continue to own it and run it, once they've been able to wipe the slate clean of their current workers and can start over again as a non-union shop.

riddlemay wrote:

rickster wrote:But someone will buy it.

This is so obvious that I'm finding it hard to believe that the media appear to take seriously the notion that Twinkies and Ho-Hos are disappearing. (Separate from the issue of whether the jobs are disappearing, which appears to be the case.)

There could certainly be a tragic shortage and even a period where they aren't available until the new manufacturer ramps up, but they'll be back.

Hi,

The current owners are filing for liquidation, which is quite different from reorganization. They have been in bankruptcy for some time.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

The current owners are filing for liquidation, which is quite different from reorganization. They have been in bankruptcy for some time.

Regards,

In effect, it's the same thing. Liquidation means that they are selling off their assets and going out of business. Those assets include the names, recipes and goodwill of all of their products. I strongly doubt that Wonder Bread, Twinkies or Ho Ho's are going to disappear from grocery shelves, not that it effects me personally all that much.

For the past several years, whenever I've had a craving for a Twinkie, I've headed to Angel Food Bakery to scratch the itch. Theirs are called something like Airstreams, because they come wrapped in foil and look like little Airstream trailers. The airstreams are made using high quality ingredients (at least, much higher quality than the chemical loaf that is the Twinkie) and require refrigeration. They also have their own versions of Hostess cupcakes and Ho Ho's. You're on your own when it comes to Wonder Bread.

Angel Food Bakery
1636 West Montrose
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 728-1512

HI,

There bankruptcies where the people want to continue and those where they want out, that is a substantive difference. I believe Chapter 11 is reorganization and Chapter 7 is dissolving. In this case, Hostess/Wonder bread is asking to dissolve with whatever assets liquidated.

Water by way is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, chemicals are everywhere!

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:
Water by way is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, chemicals are everywhere!

Regards,

That's true, but at least I can pronounce water.

There are many articles in the press as to what might happen and who might buy them. Their brand products are their most valuable asset. One place said their inventory will be sold to a big box store so probably we might see a bunch of their stuff showing up at Big Lots soon. I would guess that may be one place it shows up. If they get bought and the products and brand continues it could be made elsewhere and maybe not in Illinois. I never really liked the snowballs and the cupcakes were just okay, as were the twinkies. Ho Hos were better and I remember the sensation they caused when they were introduced, everyone wanted to taste them. I think I would buy them in grade school but not really much since. I do harbor a secret and perverse love for the hostess pies, especially cherry. As bad as they are I would sneak one about once a year if I saw them being sold in a snack shop. I think I last had one about two years ago. I would like one now but I am heading to Whole foods to get take out salad, spinach greens and other good for you stuff.

I doubt that many will end up in big box stores. There is a run on twinkies and other stuff they make people are stocking up. Also they said ebay prices are up for hostess stuff.

Instructables.com.....to the rescue!!
Make your own Twinkie

Or a vegan version

This goes beyond Twinkes and HoHos. We went to the store this morning and every week for years now we buy Nature's Pride Whole Wheat bread. We like it for taste and and that it is high in fiber. Well, guess what, their packaging says they are owned by Interstate Brands and guess who they are owned by! The Hostess/Wonder Bread brand. We ran in to the guy we have seen stocking /delivering this brand and asked him and he said that was it. He is no longer employed, he was just in the store (Woodman's) to clean up what was left as a favor to Woodman's.

Yes as I understand it, several kinds of bread will now be kaput too. Maybe only for a while. Beefsteak rye is one. I usually buy Rosen's but if I can not find that I'll get beefsteak.

15 Classic Marvel Hostess Snack Cake Ads

Someone will buy the brand. It has too much value. The company will fold under the weight of the union, but the brand will live on.

Within a few weeks, the US Bankruptcy will order an auction of the assets, ask for bids, and see what interest there is in teh assets.

Someone will purchase the assets - trademarks, recipes, etc.

No sane party would buy the company as a whole with all of the various labor contracts.

Once the assets are sold, the product will be produced by a contract baker and distributed by the purchasers network. I do NOT agree that Grupo Bimbo would be the mist likely bidder. My bet would be McKee Foods and that the whole distribution model will be different than the way that things were run under Hostess.

I would be sorry to see the Hostess cupcake disappear—not because of its taste, but because of a piece of family history.

My mother’s family escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 and arrived in New York City during the 1939 World’s Fair. One exhibit was the factory bakery of the Hostess cupcake. The cupcakes ended their journey with a machine applying their signature white squiggle across the chocolate frosting. To my 13-year old mother and 18-year old uncle, fresh from rationed Germany where they had been deprived of, among many things, chocolate, the Hostess exhibit was an amazing and wonderful introduction to American abundance.

My mother told the story often. I fairly recently learned from my uncle that a perk of the Hostess tour was being able to eat as many cupcakes afterwards as one wanted. My mother only ate one or two, but my uncle ate so many that he was sick later. I love the image of my teenaged mother and uncle, literally just off the boat, watching with fascination as cupcake after cupcake came down the conveyor belt for its frosting and squiggle.

I'm speechless...

1 BOX HOSTESS TWINKIES 10 INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED CAKES
Time left:
41m 25s (Nov 17, 2012 13:10:17 PST)
Current bid:
US $51.00
[ 28 bids ]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-BOX-HOSTESS-T ... 23253ca63f

Several places sell a twinkie mold pan.

I'm going to miss the yellow zingers. I used to buy a three pack every six months or so.

toria wrote:Yes as I understand it, several kinds of bread will now be kaput too. Maybe only for a while. Beefsteak rye is one. I usually buy Rosen's but if I can not find that I'll get beefsteak.

You can also add to the list Essential Everyday wide pan bread (Jewel house brand), Market Pantry wide pans (Target), Bread du Jour rolls, and basically every Centrella (Tony's, SuperLow, etc.) house bread. This Wonder/Hostess closing has all of their former wholesale customers scrambling for alternative products + their former competitors scrambling for their (now empty) shelf space.

Artie wrote::roll: I'm speechless...

1 BOX HOSTESS TWINKIES 10 INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED CAKES
Time left:
41m 25s (Nov 17, 2012 13:10:17 PST)
Current bid:
US $51.00
[ 28 bids ]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-BOX-HOSTESS-T ... 23253ca63f

Winning bid:
US $106.00
[ 50 bids ]

WOW.

I'm still more concerned about the loss of breads we like, I haven't had a Hostess cupcake in 50 years. I just don't eat sweets but we do like toast and a nice bread with soup. We are out in the far suburbs and there are few bakeries that are convenient.