Hostess To Close: Products Fly Off Shelves

Credit%3A%20PAUL%20J.%20RICHARDS%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EA%20photo%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20made%20by%20Interstate%20Brands%20is%20viewed%20on%20January%2011%2C%202012%20in%20Washington%2CDC.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20baker%20of%20Twinkie%20cakes%20and%20other%20iconic%20American%20foods%2C%20filed%20for%20bankruptcy%20protection%20Wednesday%20after%20failing%20to%20win%20concessions%20on%20union%20contracts.%20Founded%20in%201930%2C%20Hostess%20owns%20brands%20that%20were%20emblematic%20of%20American%20food%20for%20generations.%20Its%20popular%20Twinkie%2C%20a%20snack%20cake%20with%20a%20creamy%20filling%2C%20was%20launched%20that%20year.%20The%20company%20claims%20its%20Wonder%20bread%2C%20a%20vitamin-enriched%20sliced%20bread%2C%20was%20the%20first%20100%20percent%20natural%20bread%20available%20across%20the%20United%20States.

Credit%3A%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMIAMI%2C%20FL%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20In%20this%20photo%20illustration%2C%20Hostess%20Brands%20Twinkies%20products%20are%20shown%20along%20with%20Golden%20Cup%20Cakes%20and%20Zingers%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20decided%20to%20liquidate%20its%20business%20after%20striking%20workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20return%20to%20normal%20work%20levels%20as%20the%20company%20management%20had%20demanded.

Credit%3A%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMIAMI%2C%20FL%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20In%20this%20photo%20illustration%2C%20Hostess%20Brands%20products%20are%20shown%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20decided%20to%20liquidate%20its%20business%20after%20striking%20workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20return%20to%20normal%20work%20levels%20as%20the%20company%20management%20had%20demanded.%20

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESAN%20LEANDRO%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20Customers%20carry%20bags%20of%20Hostess%20products%20as%20they%20leave%20a%20Wonder%20Hostess%20Bakery%20Outlet%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20San%20Leandro%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.

Credit%3A%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMIAMI%2C%20FL%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20In%20this%20photo%20illustration%2C%20Hostess%20Brands%20Twinkies%20are%20shown%20in%20an%20open%20box%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20decided%20to%20liquidate%20its%20business%20after%20striking%20workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20return%20to%20normal%20work%20levels%20as%20the%20company%20management%20had%20demanded.

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESAN%20LEANDRO%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20People%20line%20up%20to%20purchase%20packages%20of%20Hostess%20products%20at%20a%20Wonder%20Hostess%20Bakery%20Outlet%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20San%20Leandro%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.%20

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESAN%20LEANDRO%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20A%20dog%20sits%20in%20a%20shopping%20cart%20that%20is%20filled%20with%20packages%20of%20Hostess%20products%20at%20a%20Wonder%20Hostess%20Bakery%20Outlet%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20San%20Leandro%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.%20

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EOAKLAND%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20Striking%20bakery%20workers%20stand%20outside%20of%20the%20Hostess%20baking%20facility%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Oakland%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EOAKLAND%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20A%20security%20guard%20stands%20behind%20striking%20bakery%20workers%20sit%20outside%20of%20the%20Interstate%20Bakeries%20facility%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Oakland%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.%20

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EOAKLAND%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20Trucks%20sit%20idle%20at%20the%20Hostess%20baking%20facility%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Oakland%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.%20

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESAN%20LEANDRO%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20Packages%20of%20Hostess%20products%20sit%20on%20a%20counter%20at%20a%20Wonder%20Hostess%20Bakery%20Outlet%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20San%20Leandro%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.%20

Credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESAN%20LEANDRO%2C%20CA%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20A%20customer%20shops%20for%20Hostess%20products%20at%20a%20Wonder%20Hostess%20Bakery%20Outlet%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20San%20Leandro%2C%20California.%20Hostess%20Brands%2C%20the%20maker%20of%20Twinkies%2C%20Ding%20Dongs%20and%20Wonder%20Bread%2C%20announced%20plans%20to%20liquidate%20its%20assets%20and%20lay%20off%20nearly%2018%2C500%20employees%20due%20to%20a%20workers%20strike%20brought%20on%20by%20an%20imposed%20contract%20that%20would%20cut%20workers%26%238217%3B%20wages%20by%208%20percent.

Credit%3A%20Scott%20Olson%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESCHILLER%20PARK%2C%20IL%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2015%3A%20Workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20stage%20a%20walkout%20at%20the%20Hostess%20Brands%20bakery%20on%20November%2015%2C%202012%20in%20Schiller%20Park%2C%20Illinois.%20Workers%20at%20the%20facility%20were%20not%20allowed%20by%20their%20contract%20to%20strike%20so%20they%20walked%20off%20their%20jobs%20in%20a%20show%20of%20support%20for%20workers%20at%20Hostess%20facilities%20that%20were%20allowed%20to%20strike.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20has%20warned%20striking%20employees%20that%20it%20will%20move%20to%20liquidate%20the%20company%20if%20plant%20operations%20don%E2%80%99t%20return%20to%20normal%20levels%20this%20afternoon.%20

Credit%3A%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMIAMI%2C%20FL%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20In%20this%20photo%20illustration%2C%20Hostess%20Brands%20Twinkies%20products%20are%20shown%20along%20with%20Golden%20Cup%20Cakes%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20decided%20to%20liquidate%20its%20business%20after%20striking%20workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20return%20to%20normal%20work%20levels%20as%20the%20company%20managment%20had%20demanded.%20

Credit%3A%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMIAMI%2C%20FL%20%26%238211%3B%20%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20In%20this%20photo%20illustration%2C%20Hostess%20Brand%20Wonder%20Bread%20is%20shown%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20decided%20to%20liquidate%20its%20business%20after%20striking%20workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20return%20to%20normal%20work%20levels%20as%20the%20company%20management%20had%20demanded.%20

Credit%3A%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMIAMI%2C%20FL%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2016%3A%20In%20this%20photo%20illustration%2C%20Hostess%20Brands%20products%20are%20shown%20on%20November%2016%2C%202012%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida.%20Hostess%20Brands%20Inc.%20decided%20to%20liquidate%20its%20business%20after%20striking%20workers%20with%20the%20Bakery%2C%20Confectionery%2C%20Tobacco%20Workers%20and%20Grain%20Millers%20International%20Union%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20return%20to%20normal%20work%20levels%20as%20the%20company%20management%20had%20demanded.%20