Oh, NOOOOOOOO!
From the Associated Press:
Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of iconic childhood treats including Ding Dongs, Wonder Bread and Drakes, is winding down its operations after struggling to keep up with rising labor costs and the ever-changing tastes of Americans, who have grown accustomed to a dizzying array of new snacks flooding supermarket aisles every year.And the unions win their battle with Hostess.
The company, whose roster of brands date as far back as 1888, filed a motion to liquidate Friday with U.S. Bankruptcy Court after striking workers across the country crippled its ability to maintain production.
Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn said in an interview that there was no buyer waiting in the wings to rescue the company. But without giving details, he said that there has been interest in some of its 30 brands, which include Dolly Madison and Nature's Pride snacks. Experts agreed that it was likely the biggest brands would survive.
...The shuttering of Hostess means the loss of about 18,500 jobs. Hostess said employees at its 33 factories were sent home and operations suspended Friday. Its roughly 500 bakery outlet stores will stay open for several days to sell remaining products.
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 and benefits. The bakers union represents about 30 percent of the company's workforce.
What an accomplishment!
Goodbye, 18,500 jobs.
More than 180 Wisconsin workers could lose Hostess jobs.
Goodbye, Wonder Bread.
So many sandwiches. So many hot dog and hamburger buns.
Goodbye, Ho Hos.
My grade school brown bag lunch: Milk, sandwich, apple or orange, Ho Ho.
Goodbye, Twinkies.
A world without Twinkies?
Very sad.
Way to go, unions. Way to go.
Get 'em while you can, the last of the Twinkies.
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Vintage Hostess commercials:
