Hostess (makers of Twinkies, Wonderbread, etc) is closing down for good.

**Outlaw** · 2012-11-16 12:34

By CANDICE CHOI, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Twinkies may not last forever after all.

Hostess Brands Inc., which makes Ding Dongs, Wonder Bread and other snacks, filed a motion Friday with U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to shutter its operations. The move comes after the company said striking workers across the country crippled its ability to maintain production.

The closing would mean the loss of about 18,500 jobs. The company said employees at its 33 factories were sent home and operations suspended Friday and its roughly 500 bakery outlet stores will stay open for several days to sell remaining products.

Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn said in an interview that there was no buyer waiting to buy the company. But without giving details, he said that there has been interest in some of its 30 brands, which include Dolly Madison, Drake's and Nature's Pride snacks.

Rayburn said the financial impact of the strike makes it too late to save the company even if workers have a change of heart. That's because the company was operating on thin margins and stalling production meant the loss of critical sales.

"The strike impacted us in terms of cash flow. The plants were operating well below 50 percent capacity and customers were not getting products," Rayburn said.

Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade, as it struggled with increased competition, Americans' move toward healthier eating and the high pension, wage and medical costs related to its unionized workforce.

The move to liquidate comes after a long battle with its unions. Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike last week after rejecting a contract offer that slashed wages. The bakers union represents about 30 percent of the company's workforce. .........

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...480f38faf7ee7a

This is a sad day.

**Ksandra** · 2012-11-16 12:36

I said this in the election thread, but I swear they've done this a bunch before to boost sales. I'll believe it when I see it.

**Insanecyclone** · 2012-11-16 12:38

**Bregor** · 2012-11-16 12:41

Originally Posted by Ksandra

I said this in the election thread, but I swear they've done this a bunch before to boost sales. I'll believe it when I see it.

AFAIK even if they do liquidate, the companies who buy their assets can just go on making the goodies we all know and love.

**Milkster** · 2012-11-16 12:48

It's not Little Debbie's, nothing of value will be lost.

**Conrad** · 2012-11-16 12:48

not as sad as when tastykakes were sold

**Sol-Blackguy** · 2012-11-16 12:54

Weed gets legalized, Twinkies might go away forever. The irony...

**Seraph** · 2012-11-16 12:55

Originally Posted by Milkster

It's not Little Debbie's, nothing of value will be lost.

Pretty much this. LD has always had superior shitfood snacks. With that said, I haven't seen a strawberry flavor filled twinkie in probably over 15 years. Those things were worth eating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws9z-axq17I

**Dimmauk** · 2012-11-16 13:08

DAMN YOU OBAMA!!!

**Meresgi** · 2012-11-16 13:14

Originally Posted by Milkster

It's not Little Debbie's, nothing of value will be lost.

This^

My initial reaction was "oh shit, do they make Little Debbie snacks?" and then I didn't care too much. Twinkies have been meh to me for a long time.

**Cleverness** · 2012-11-16 13:17

Originally Posted by Sol-Blackguy

Weed gets legalized, Twinkies might go away forever. The irony...

Taco Bell is still around, I found it to be superior when you're baked back when I smoked compared to snack cakes.

**hey** · 2012-11-16 13:18

The plants were operating well below 50 percent capacity and customers were not getting products," Rayburn said.

lol, why didn't they shut some down then?

**Soa** · 2012-11-16 13:25

The Conservative members of my Facebook are out in full force today demonizing unions because of this news. Bear in mind that most of these people have thrown temper tantrums in the past about not getting their yearly raise or getting bonus pay for working OT, so yeah.

**Marootsoobutsu** · 2012-11-16 13:53

Originally Posted by hey

lol, why didn't they shut some down then?

I'm going to guess because shutting down the plant in Texas doesn't mean those workers will magically reappear in California? The issue wasn't a lack of interest, but a lack of manpower.

**hey** · 2012-11-16 13:54

Oh, my bad. I can't read.

**Kyte** · 2012-11-16 14:27

Originally Posted by Cleverness

Taco Bell is still around, I found it to be superior when you're baked back when I smoked compared to snack cakes.

My stoner roommates always just ate boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

**Athas** · 2012-11-16 14:52

Why were the workers striking? For how long now?

**Qalbert** · 2012-11-16 14:55

**Seanr** · 2012-11-16 14:57

Twinkies sucked after they changed the cream filling in the 90s. It used to seem more granulated and sugary, not this diarrhea smooth cream they have now

**Misterjingles** · 2012-11-16 15:36

I thought there was time for my son to experience a Twinkie... THERE'S NO MORE TIME.

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