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OK, I don't believe this because I didn't see the national news myself tonight BUT DH said that Wonder Bread/Hostess has announced plans to close all U.S. plants ~ meaning there will be no more Wonder Bread, Twinkies, Sno-Balls or Chocolate Cake Cupcakes with the marshmellow filling!

I know I seldom buy the extra's but I'm going to go buy out all of the local stores tomarrow ~ they freeze, right? Enough's enough ~ we need our Wonder Bread and all of the rest of the treats! Can't imagine a world without Hostess treats in it....

Supposedly Hostess & the workers' unions couldn't agree (benefits); they'd been on strike for quite sometime. Today's local news showed empty shelves at several Hostess outlets.

I bought a box of Twinkies to put in freezer. Not that we eat them that often, but couldn't resist the purchase. Hard to believe they won't be on the shelves anymore.

I think someone will buy the Twinkies brand from Hostess -- Little Debbie is a possibility. They may be gone but I don't think it will be forever! In the meantime, someone said that a package of Twinkies was selling for $500 on ebay-- I've not been over to check so I don't know that for a fact!

Martha

It is a shame. The company was already having problems...then the unionized employees voted to strike because the company was going to have to lower salaries and benefits (that's what I'm understanding). I know how hard it is to take less for the same job...but in the economy we have now...?! Had they taken the offer, they would at least still have a job while they were looking for another.

How's it working for them now?

The article that I read stated that the brands would be sold...so perhaps they will be back.

My store had only FOUR boxes of Twinkies left and they had chocolate filling! I didn't know that they even had chocolate filling. Yep. I bought one box. Almost bought a box of snowballs but decided the one box of Twinkies was enough calories for nostalgia's sake.

Though I was not a fan of the brand or any commercial baked goods preferring to bake from scratch, this is indeed a sad sign of the times. Don't be surprised if other companies collapse under similar circumstances. Indeed, one has to wonder (no pun intended) what the unions were thinking...calling the company bluff? I can see the importance of unions IF (!) run right and not abused, but clearly this one shot itself in the foot BIG TIME and I am sure they're not the first nor will they be the last. If you read or heard some of the current union disputes (even in regards to coming to the aid of the Sandy recovery where local unions drove away out of state unions trying to assist) you'll no doubt agree they are increasingly running amuck. More and more people out of work. This is getting scary by the minute.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

There's a history to this saga.
If you want to know the union's side, here it is.

The company had already filed bankruptcy twice. After the second time in 2004, the union made significant concessions in wages and benefits so that the costs saved could be plowed back into the company in order to rescue it. Instead of that happening, the execs took the money to give an 80% pay increase to themselves.
This time, the company wanted the union to take yet another pay cut of between 27% and 32% to "save the company".
As the old saying goes, "Fool me once... "

Furthermore, the strike had nothing to do with the company folding. The mayor of St. Louis had been told months ago, before contract negotiations were ever thought about, that the St. Louis plant would close. This was a foregone conclusion.

This is just another case of Wall Street vulture capitalists in control of this company being able to walk away with millions of dollars.

Who among you could live on a 1/4 - 1/3 pay cut plus cuts to pension benefits?

Understanding the importance of the history of sweatshops and the labor movement will help prevent it happening again.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nettiejay,

I was a bit concerned about what I typed above being misconstrued. Unions have done great jobs in many areas of industry in this country...child labor laws, decent work hours, etc. But when "a" union starts making demands that "a" company cannot meet...this is what happens.

The same thing is happening in some areas with Wal-Mart. I do not personally like WMs so this is not an endorsement for them. However for the workers at WM and any other company...if you do not like the pay and/or benefits, then find another job. When you sign on to work for 30 hours per week at $X per hour and no benefits...then what's the problem?!

I've worked at mediocre wages with no benefits myself. From there to decent wages with benefits. Up and down both sides of the issue. But when you've agreed to the terms under which you were hired...then what's the problem?!

quote:

But when you've agreed to the terms under which you were hired...then what's the problem?!

The problem is that Hostess changed the terms!!!
(Or are you talking just about WM?)

They are so loaded with preservatives for shelf life, I doubt freezing would be necessary...as long as they are eaten within the next decade or two.

I also think another company will take over the recipe/production for the most popular Hostess items. Maybe whole wheat twinkies?

Someone on another blog mentions the bad timing of this, especially in the states that now allow recreational use of those "funny" smokes. Sorry could not resist sharing that.

Well, I won't miss them. I know they're iconic items from some folks childhood, though. I actually don't remember ever eating any of those products more than a time or two in my life.

As for the union issue, there's always two sides to any work dispute, so without being knowledgeable of the facts in this one, I have no opinion.

My last post was just about WalMart...

As for Hostess...both sides could either agree to concessions and keep the doors open and keep jobs...or close the door and the jobs go poof.

Management was asking for a 3rd round of wage and pension reductions from the employees. This when no one in management had taken any cuts. Wages had already dropped so far some employees were barely earning enough to cover the gas for their commute to work.

Linderhof is right. Many of the better-selling brands will be bought by their former competitors.

I live in a community with a Wonder plant.
We toured it as kindergartner's.
The blame lies with neither the company or the unions but with consumers.
How do you think they could manage business through the no carbohydrate and low carbohydrate eras? This is what they had dealt to them and they were never able to get fully recovered.
So American public - don't come whining around about "too bad, so sad" to me.
I'm the one that's going to have to figure out what brand and where I can purchase comparable wide-loaf, dense breads in a great variety of offerings! I never buy into the next media food craze or diet!
This is what happened to BPI because of that unfortunate ABC airing pink slime story; Wonder Bread due to Dr. Atkin's diet, etc. Who takes the next fall?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lurah,

We all will be better off NOT eating any of these types of carbs - but surely, the company could have changed with the times - and come up with more healthful treats - and I quit eating soft white Wonder Bread maybe 60 years ago . . . .

If y'all had the opportunity to try Evangeline Maid or Bunny Bread, you'd realize that Wonder Bread was never great to begin with.

Nettiejay,
My husband worked for 1/4 the wages he hired into the last four years before he could retire. We had to make many adjustments to our lifestyle; also as a Realtor, the real estate business had started to fail. But we adjusted and survived. It can be done.

I was aware when I started this thread that disputes between unions, upper-management and at least two bankruptcies were involved in the story but since Idaho has been a "so-called right to work state" for several decades (and that was a hard fought bitter fight), I simply choose to ignore the issue!

I was reacting mostly to the idea that there may soon be no more Sno-Balls or Chocolate Cupcakes on the shelves ~ I remember especially the Pink and White Sno-Balls from my childhood (a very rare treat) although I seldom buy them as an adult.

But I do have to admit that Wonder Bread is an everyday household staple for DH and myself! And, yes, I know all about the preservatives and the benefit of whole grains ~ we just like Wonder Bread better and seriously doubt that we are endangering our health due to a half dozen slices each per week!

A sign of the times, I suppose ~ sigh....

quote:

Originally posted by conrad:

Someone on another blog mentions the bad timing of this, especially in the states that now allow recreational use of those "funny" smokes. Sorry could not resist sharing that.

Conrad, I laughed at your whole post but only quoted part because, last I knew, Hostess didn't make Brownies so no worries....

quote:

Originally posted by mamaspoon:
Nettiejay,
My husband worked for 1/4 the wages he hired into the last four years before he could retire. We had to make many adjustments to our lifestyle; also as a Realtor, the real estate business had started to fail. But we adjusted and survived. It can be done.

Sure it can be done. Many, many millions are doing it. I won't mention my family's personal sacrifices to this horrid economy, but we're making plenty.
But maybe you missed the part where I said the Hostess execs granted themselves an 80% pay increase from the savings the company reaped from the workers' concessions after the second bankruptcy?

I never bought the spongy cheap white Wonder bread in the polka dot package. They offered wonderful, healthy lines with lots of grains, seeds and whole wheat, etc.
Coming up with new product lines doesn't happen overnight, it demands major expenditures for new equipment and installation and so on. With an already tight profit margin for all you bargain shoppers out there who think Walmart is the bees knees and the like....it's not a corporation flush with cash or capital.
The community where we reside has been hard hit by corporate closings this year due to food trends and American public buying habits who are so stupid to believe everything they hear from news media!

FYI 18,000 union jobs lost because 5,000 union employees wanted to hold out for better terms to their contract. Very few of the plants had work stoppages, most were still producing, including the plant locally.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lurah,

quote:

Originally posted by sms29s66:
If y'all had the opportunity to try Evangeline Maid or Bunny Bread, you'd realize that Wonder Bread was never great to begin with.

And those brands don't exist in the Midwest, never seen them in my travels either. Are they a local offering only?

I knew someone that worked for Wonder Bread/Hostess and their comment to me was that their heyday was in the 50s and 60s and that their company was not innovative in respect to come up with new products that would keep the company alive but instead relied on those products that made them money and LOTS of money in the 50s and 60s.

Their food are memories of our childhood when their cupcakes, twinkies and ding dongs were part of our school day lunch in a time when every meal often ended with a sweet but in the low carb and diet conscious days such food were occasional treats not everyday fare and instead of looking and finding low carb alternatives to market, they ontinued to churn out the same old products.

As to Bunny Bread -- it IS a product of the Midwest -- for that's where it's mostly sold (as well as a few southern states), however, it is not sold in EVERY county in the midwest so you must live in a COUNTY where it isn't sold.

Martha

[/QUOTE]

Conrad, I laughed at your whole post but only quoted part because, last I knew, Hostess didn't make Brownies so no worries.... [/QUOTE]

Ah, but then I was thinking about those additional munchie snacks ...AFTER... the brownies?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Linderhof:
I knew someone that worked for Wonder Bread/Hostess and their comment to me was that their heyday was in the 50s and 60s and that their company was not innovative in respect to come up with new products that would keep the company alive but instead relied on those products that made them money and LOTS of money in the 50s and 60s.
QUOTE]

The last time I ate any Hostess product was in the late 60's, and, IMO, that's where they belong.

Interestingly, it was the baker's union that did not accept the new contracts. The teamster's accepted the changes. Thank you Nettiejay for giving some of the history of the labor dispute.

Lurah also pointed out the real reason for their failure -- their inability to change with the times. They did not make investments into the company back when they were at their height, instead they chose to pocket all the profits. Not good decisions by upper management over the years.

I remember asking my mother to buy Wonder bread when I was in grade school in the 60's and when she did buy Wonder Bread - I hated it, as I told my mother - I don't like how it smells.

quote:

Originally posted by Charming:
when she did buy Wonder Bread - I hated it, as I told my mother - I don't like how it smells.

We rolled it up little pieces and made spitballs from them.

Lurah, the bakeries that make Evangeline Maid (originated in my hometown of Lafayette LA) and Bunny Bread which used to be availabe in New Orleans were bought out by Flowers Bakery in Atlanta. After my original post, I saw on a news crawl line that Flowers was one of the companies in negotiations to buy the Hostess product line. We won't be without Twinkies for long, folks. But whenever I get an envie for one and buy a package, I wonder why. The creme filling tastes like chemicals, not whipped cream.

Because it is chemicals and not whipped cream! LOL!!!

And it does (or did) contain lard!

Martha

It is sad that so many people are now loosing their jobs.

My favorite Hostess product was that little fruitcake they put out at Christmas. No one I know likes fruitcake, and no one bakes it anymore in my family, but I like it, and so would get my fix with just one little individual Hostess cake a year.

Never liked any of the other products too much, after I grew up. My grandmother would bring us Hostess treats when I was little, which was fun, but my mother never ever bought them, so I never had them much.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cocok,

linderhof, wouldn't you think that in this day and age they could make a chemical concoction that didn't taste like chemicals???!!!! LOL

Hold the presses! Latest news:

"Hostess Brands Inc agreed in court on Monday to enter private mediation with its lenders and leaders of a striking union to try to avert the liquidation of the maker of Twinkies snack cakes and Wonder Bread."

The article went on to say that Hostess is not certain that it can survive at this point...

I ate one of my Twinkies, then brought some to work to share. The commissioners were appreciative.

Today on the "five at five" one of the participants, Greg guptil (sp?) brought in a blender and mixed up 4 twinkies with what looked like milk. Some of the others took a sip but Bob Beckel scarfed down the whole glass full.

Before the show ended he had left the set! What a testimony for twinkies!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cocok:
My favorite Hostess product was that little fruitcake they put out at Christmas. No one I know likes fruitcake, and no one bakes it anymore in my family, but I like it, and so would get my fix with just one little individual Hostess cake a year. QUOTE]

Ditto, the exact same situation for me. I'd savor every bite of that little fruitcake for a few weeks with my morning coffee or afternoon tea. Maybe I'll buy a new brand in a larger size, cut and wrap hunks of it for the freezer this year.

I saw the headline the other day about Hostess closing its doors. I was like, huh? I didn't read the article but was in enough of a dismay to ask dh if he heard of it. Which he had.

I guess it's a childhood memory thing for me. While my mom never really bought twinkies, my gram did. I have always liked them and the Hostess brand has been around as long as I can remember. To me, it's like Coco Cola going out of business. What, an American staple, true Americana (to me)? How can it go out of business?

Just my non-newsy thoughts.

Remember the "Twinkie defense', what will replace it? Nature Valley/ absurd...

Twinkies has become an adjective to describe garbage, but good garbage. LOL