An End to Twinkies: What Do You Think?

mike November 19, 2012 at 01:20 pm

Exactly! Get in line, new libs!

Michael D. November 19, 2012 at 01:52 pm

As all business problems the issue is on both the executives and union labor. The executives were giving them selves disportionate raises, but also the union were not truly willing to renogiate to save the company. The brands that Hostess owns are still very profitable brands. Just this is an issue where niether side did the appropriate things to adjust to the changing environment.
Now, I do not think that Unions are as useful for the average employee than they were when they were instituted. Not to say that do not have some value, but overall, they have been just as harmful to business as the skyrocketing levels of executive pay. Unions have in most part become a way to protect under achieving and retired employees than the guy on the line. By the way... this destroys the premise of the movie Zombieland which is the real victim here.

Samuel Clemens November 19, 2012 at 03:05 pm

Mike, how do you categorize Social Security and Medicare? Obama wasn't the first one to introduce Socialism to the country.

Samuel Clemens November 19, 2012 at 03:12 pm

For anybody who wants to learn more about GMO's:
www.seedsofdeception.com/ What I said above isn't a joke. I'm actually blown away by how many people are unaware of genetically modified foods. Do yourself and your family a favor and start looking into this madness. Monsanto is pure evil and their people are littered throughout the Federal Govt. Seriously, please do some research into GMO's. If you still have a brain capable of discerning good from evil, you will be thankful to learn about the frankenseeds.

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 03:52 pm

Being a Philadelphia girl, I was never interested in Hostess products. After all, we had our own Tastykakes--far superior! They are now available in the Tampa Bay area, so there is no need to weep for Twinkies.

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 04:03 pm

They are working on requiring labeling of frankenfoods in CA, and I hope they win and start a nationwide movement. Meanwhile, we all need to actively avoid the poisons. Taco Bell products, including the taco shells they sell in supermarkets, are GMO. Tyson chickens are akin to Martians. Grow as much of your own foods as you can, using heirloom seeds. Look for meat, poultry, eggs and dairy from pastured animals. Buy only wild-caught fish. Do your own cooking from scratch so as to avoid additives.

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 04:04 pm

PS They are at Publix, and perhaps other supermarkets.

Deborah Weatherby November 20, 2012 at 04:23 pm

A couple of years ago, I bought a whole bunch of wonder bread in anticipation of increased value on ebay, needless to say, when we moved I emptied my freezer of 20 loaves of bread that I would otherwise never have purchased, oh well

Michael D. November 20, 2012 at 04:26 pm

Am I the only one that thinks it's funny that twinkies are going away right after 3 states legalized pot? What are they going to do for the munchies?

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 04:33 pm

Tastykakes--the munchy of choice when I was an undergrad at Temple University!
;-)

Samuel Clemens November 20, 2012 at 06:15 pm

Dorine.........PROP 37 failed miserably in CA even though many reports showed overwhelming support for it's passage.
You wouldn't believe the pure propaganda/lies told to the people. They were actually meant to believe the Bill was written by trial lawyers so they could bring about million$$$$ in lawsuits.........all on the backs of the taxpayers. They actually convinced the dumbed-downed public that labeling would cost each Californian $100-$200 extra each year................as those who opposed the Proposition spent upwards of $50 millions. Regardless of what any person thinks regarding GMO's, the very fact that Million$$$$ were spent to save each person a few hundred$$$$ speaks volumes. People want to fight about Big Bird and womans rights to kill and 47% and tax returns and birth place when Monsanto is taking over the world via their seeds. GMO OMG WTF R WE EATING???

Samuel Clemens November 20, 2012 at 06:17 pm

Michael D, I guess you are unaware of the new "Diet-Cannabis" that curbs hunger! Although I am still confused as to how they get the Apsartame in there.

Michael D. November 20, 2012 at 07:07 pm

Samuel,
I'm not a partaker of the Cannabis. But the friends I have that do partake in it, I'm sure are not worried about a diet version. I have no problem with the user of a plant, but I'm sure some genetic engineering went into the Diet version. Much like all the other genetic stuff with other foods.

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 10:09 pm

Excuse me, Samuel. but my husband was a member of the FOP for 21 years, and on after retirement. For a time he represented his squad. Police officers today make a living wage and have good health care thanks to their union. Thanks to the FOP the City of Philadelphia keeps me in a widow's pension check every month for the rest of my life.
Thanks to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, many of my friends could afford this generation's horrific college costs for their kids. I got my BA for under $10,000--and lived in the dorm. The next generation saw college costs explode, and only hard union work brought teachers out of borderline poverty . Unions are still an essential force for helping those who work for others.

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 10:13 pm

Samuel, I *do* know how national health care really works in other countries. For several years as a young woman, I worked in one such country and was part of the national program. I've been a huge fan ever since.

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 10:14 pm

Hear, hear!

Dorine Houston November 20, 2012 at 10:35 pm

Hear, hear!

Samuel Clemens November 21, 2012 at 05:05 pm

Guess I should have added a ;-)
I was joking about the Diet Cannabis.....although there are extreme differences between Male/Female plants and Indica/Sativa......which leads some strains to cause the munchies. The plant is so wonderfully made, it will never need any engineering. The Cannabinoids produced by the plant are such an amazing compound, some of us never have the need to ever go to an MD. It does blow my mind how a plant has been demonized as much as this one.....and the scary part is the public actually buys the lies. My gosh, if you didn't know any better, one would believe "Reefer Madness" was satirical. "Make nature against the law......is like saying God made a mistake" I love Bill Hicks take on the subject.....and he wasn't a partaker of the Cannabis either: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2BevE96gtc

Samuel Clemens November 21, 2012 at 06:03 pm

Michael D, we may not be against a plant that grows from the ground.......but being that craaazy conspiratorial person I am, thought I would point out the United Nations is once again under the belief they have jurisdiction over the people of America.
www.incb.org/documents/Press_Releases/press_release_151112.pdf " The INCB President requested the Government of the United States to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance with the international drug control treaties within the entire territory of the United States, in order to protect the health and well-being of its citizens" Where's the outcry over the pharmaceutical drugs that actually kill people and destroy lives? Screw the UN.

Michael D. November 21, 2012 at 06:25 pm

Have to agree, they should have no bearing over what we find as illegal.

Cullen A Williams November 23, 2012 at 06:57 pm

Flowers Foods of Thomasville Ga is the only company out there that could take the whole Hostess Cake label and make Blue Bird their present brand label and make it a national private label through their frozen snack cake division and make Hostess cake label their number one cake label instantly and make it profitable along with TastyKake and make it work within a very short period of time and make it one of the most profitable labels in the world, they don't need the bread label because they already have the number one selling bread label in Nature's Own which Hostess tried to copy with the Nature's Pride and Flowers sued them for copyright infringements is what drove Hostess into bankruptcy back in January 2012 because they were going to have to pay Flowers billions for the copyright infringement so they filed bankruptcy to keep from having to pay Flowers, Flowers don't need the plants except maybe one or two because their plants are no where as modernized as existing Flowers plants it would be cheaper for Flowers to just build new plants than try and modernize the existing ones of Hostess because they are so outdated. Human hands never touch anything Flowers puts out, Flowers does not use any corn syrup only sugar or honey or artificial colors or other preservatives except for vinegar which is all natural. Pick up a loaf of Nature's Own bread and read the the label. yes I have a bias i worked for them 24 yrs because I was injured on the job 14 yrs ago and had to retire.

Cullen A Williams November 23, 2012 at 07:16 pm

Hostess never tried anything healthy in the history of the company until the came out with Nature's Pride which they stole the ideal and was sued by Flowers for copyright infringement because they got as close as they could to "Nature's Own" the number one selling bread in the USA and Flowers only serve 70=75% of the US population right now and they are the number 2 baking company in the US, look what they did with Keebler who had not made a profit in years and Flowers bought them out and put their management style in place and with their research and development Keebler was profitable in 6 months, then grew leaps and bounds Flowers then wanted to get back to their core business of baking bread and sold it to Kellogg's they did the same with Mrs Smith Pies they bought from Smuckers and made it profitable and sold it to Schwann's Flowers has the most modernize plants of any other bread company in the USA, they would be a lot bigger today if Jimmy Carter was not against them when he was president and stopped them from buying out other companies for 10 years. If you want Hostess Brands around for many many years you better pray Flowers ends up with them, they don't need the plants because it would cost them more to update those plants than it would to build new ones, they have plants that can make 100,000 loaves of bread a hour and human hands never touch it, go to Flowers Foods website and watch the video of the bread plant just built in Bardstown KY the newest plant they have.

Cullen A Williams November 23, 2012 at 07:28 pm

Try Flowers Foods Nature's Own breads if you want real bread not chemicals its all natural and the number one selling bread in the USA, pick up a loaf and read the label then buy one, if you don't like it I am sure they will gladly reimburse you for at least trying it. no corn by products, no bleached flour, just like the name says Nature's Own, Hostess tried to copy it and got sued for copyright infringement is the reason they are bankrupt today is because they knew they were going to have to pay Flowers billions so they filed bankruptcy, Try their last companies they bought out snack cake by TastyKake, They may not be the cheapest bread on the market but you only get what you pay for, and like I said if you don't like it I am sure they will reimburse you for what you paid for it, I know I did when I worked for then as route driver, distributor, district manager, Sales manager, and Operations manager for 24 yrs until I had an accident on the job 14 yrs ago if they should get Hostess I would willing go back to work for them in a position that didn't involve any lifting or bending which I broke my back in the accident, to be part of that company again.

Cullen A Williams November 23, 2012 at 07:34 pm

Let Flowers Foods buy it. It would be a more healthier, and mostly more profitable company by far. They are number 2 bread company in USA well actually they are the number one because the one listed as number one is a mexican company, lets keep these jobs and products in the hands of a great American Company, Flowers Foods, check out their website www.flowersfoods.com

Cullen A Williams November 23, 2012 at 07:44 pm

At one time Unions had their benefits and still do basically but they can not tell a company how to manage or run their companies. Flowers Foods is basically a non-union company but they do have about 5% union plants, actually the non union people have better pay and benefits than the union people do. I worked for Flowers for 24 yrs some of that time was in a union but I got no benefit from them when I had a disagreement with the company the union said there was nothing they could do so i took it into my own hands and made an appointment with the VP of the plant i was working and within 5 minutes everything was straightened out, ask Flowers what is their greatest asset is and they will tell you its their employees, yes they ask a lot out of you, but if a company really cares about their business they will take care of their employees because they are the ones that are making their products

Cullen A Williams November 23, 2012 at 07:45 pm

If a company values their employees 99% of the time they will be profitable, union or non union i have done both

Dorine Houston November 23, 2012 at 10:46 pm

For spamming inappropriately, guess who I will boycott until at least 2014!

Cullen A Williams November 24, 2012 at 04:40 am

Let Flowers Foods that owns Nature's Own bread the number one selling bread in USA and TastyKake buy them and they will turn Hostess into a bigger landmark than it is already and make a profit doing, they are an American company not a mexican like Bimbo or Grupo Flowers has the most modern plants in the world and know how to bake a great loaf of Bread and snack cake, they had Keebler turning a profit after only owning them for 8 months and they had not turned a profit in yrs before Flowers bought them. " The Flowers Way" is their management style and slogan check out www.flowersfoods.com and watch the video of a modern plant I think that they just built in Bardstown KY

Sharon Short November 24, 2012 at 04:51 pm

I am sad for the jobs lost...BUT..I will NOT miss twinkies. I don't eat them anyway. With all of the current problems Anerica has now, Twinkies are low on the totum pole as far as I am concerned. LOL!

Cullen A Williams December 3, 2012 at 01:06 am

I hate to see 18000 people lose their jobs but if a company is not updating their plants and making more healthier products in this economy they are going to be left behind and fast, I remember when IBC was the largest baking company in the USA, now its a Mexican company that is number 1 Flowers Foods is the number 2 company but they are the largest wholly owned USA baking company and the most modern, their plants are totally computerized and human hands never touch it until it has already been put in the breadtrays and stacked 17 for bread and 20 for buns and on the track built into the floor that moves it to the trailer it needs to be pulled off at and loaded on to be shipped out to other plants or warehouses, most warehouse gets their product and it still hot I know I unloaded many of them, I gave them 24 years until I was injured on the job and yes I am taken care of today by workers comp but I would gladly settle with WC and return to work in a position I could do as an account rep or something I greatly enjoyed working for them as a unionized route salesman, distributor for 6 years and yes I made a nice profit when I sold my distributorship and went back to work as an employee for Flowers and I spent the next 12 years as district manager, Sales manager, Operation manager and I worked many many 24/7 weeks and months and one 7 years period I went working without a vacation and never used a sick day until the day I got hurt then I went on light duty for a week then retired