Update: Company spokesperson Tammy Taylor tells KUT News that “Hostess Brands had 230 employees in Texas. All facilities are shut down, with the exception of retail outlets, which will remain open for about a week to sell remaining product in going out of business sales.”
Taylor says that “severance will not be paid at this time” to the laid-off employees; “funds for these amounts are not in the ‘Wind Down’ budget that Hostess lenders approved.”
Original post (1:25 p.m.): It’s the end of Hostess Brands, the Texas-headquartered maker of Twinkies, Wonder Bread and Ding Dongs. This morning Hostess said it filed a motion in bankruptcy court to request permission to liquidate its assets.
On Wednesday the company filed for bankruptcy. This is the second time that Hostess has filed for Chapter 11. This time, it doesn’t look like the company will be bouncing back.
As a result of the liquidation, Hostess will be laying off its 18,500 employees. The baked goods company said it has suspended all bakery operations, but deliveries will continue and its retail stores will stay open to sell goods already made.
Thousands of union members of the Irving, Texas-based company went on strike late last week after rejecting a contract offer that cut wages and benefits. The company has blamed the striking workers for its decision to go out of business. Union officials say they are not responsible for the failure of the company.
Lovers of the brand's most famous items, such as Twinkies, Sno Balls, and Ho Hos may not have to worry. It is likely individual brands will be bought up by at least one other company.
