The end of the Twinkie?????

[Dusty Chalk]

That said, hostess outlived it's market. People are more particular about what they eat today than in years past, so any value in their brand is only going to go down. And I can't imagine repurposing the hostess brand for healthy alternatives. Maybe someone will buy their intellectual property, and then sell their products in a smaller scale, so they have a chance at success.

QFT.

Realistic market expectations is undervalued. Everything today is "growth growth growth" -- it doesn't always have to be about growth, sometimes just making ends meet is good enough (especially with a not-for-profit, for example).

Oh, and yeah, in the interest of full disclosure, I think I've had maybe one twinkie in the past two decades. I won't miss them. I don't avoid them, but I don't seek them out neither.

[jwzhan]

Had my first twinkies two months ago. damn those things are SWEET. can't imagine myself wanting to buy another ever.. I also heard over NPR that apparently there is a run on the Hostess products (namely twinkies and its chocolate conterpart) nationwide...

[grawk]

Walmart was completely sold out here (my kids wanted to try em, because of the news). They got the little debbie equivalent instead, and proclaimed them "nasty".

[Salt Peanuts]

While I've my guilty pleasures (Little Debbie Nuttty Bars), I haven't had a Twinkie or any Hostess product in years and won't be missing them.

[grawk]

I used to eat zingers when I worked 3rd shift. I can't say I miss them, but I did eat a ton of them. I haven't in 15+ years tho.

[909]

It's a bit upsetting reading so many people harping over fucking twinkies! What about the 18,000 people that lost their jobs because the union wouldn't compromise.

Edited November 17, 2012 by 909

[grawk]

They were the union, so they lost their jobs because THEY wouldn't compromise. And the product's been around a lot longer than any of them have had their jobs.

[The Monkey]

Yeah, but it's not exactly like this has been a mom & pop shop for decades. This has been some sort of private equity play for a long time now and has also changed hands more times than I've had DACs in its history. And it is in at least its 2nd BK. Maybe this business model isn't working? Regardless, it seems that brand stewardship either wasn't a priority or simply wasn't possible anymore in this environment. It would be interesting to see who picks up the brands (who's #3 in the space?).

[grawk]

Sure, it's a big business that stopped changing with the market. The upshot of not adapting is dying. I think it's reasonable that they die/contract HUGELY at this point. The world doesn't need hostess at the scale it once seemed to.

[skullguise]

Whole wheat or gluten-free Twinkies with Soy Protein Cream-like filling.....coming to an Whole Foods near you......

[HeadphoneAddict]

I would take Zingers over Twinkies any day.

[morphsci]

Growing up on Twinkies and Yoohoo FTW!

[blessingx]

I would take Zingers over Twinkies any day.

Zingers by Dolly Madison? Same here, but guess who owns Dolly Madison?

[HeadphoneAddict]

Zingers by Dolly Madison? Same here, but guess who owns Dolly Madison?

OH CRAP!

[swt61]

You mean it's not Dolly?

Next thing you'll tell me that Sarah Lee doesn't own Sarah Lee, or Little Debbie doesn't...You get the idea.

[blessingx]

[CarlSeibert]

Without Snowballs, how will I ever drive across the ally?

[Voltron]

I hear they actually cut a deal with the union and the Ho Ho flow will continue uninterrupted.

[swt61]

And Dentists across America rejoice!

[aardvark baguette]

Just bought the last ho-ho in the machine just now.

Score!

[aerius]

The Twinkie lives on, at least here in Canada. I can't say I've seen any on display shelves recently, but I'd guess Walmart has millions of them for sale.

http://www.theglobea...article5548529/

[skullguise]

Necro-revive, in more ways than one.

 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100882342

 

On sale starting today at Wal-Mart.....