Twinkie Maker Bankrupt

[srhcb]

"Interstate Bakeries Corp. (IBC), the nation's largest wholesaler baker whose products include Twinkies and Wonder Bread, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection early Wednesday."

It's even sad to see an icon of poor nutrition vanish?

[Gifted Gourmet]

Pillsbury Dough Boy no doubt in deepest grief ... white flour no longer hot item?

[Carrot Top]

Oh I doubt if they will vanish. Likely just housecleaning the books and gathering themselves into stronger better pap-makers.

Love the title of your thread...it could lead to all sorts of nonsensical responses. But we don't do that here, do we now.

But seriously, thanks for the info. Probably in two months time the Twinkies packages will be smaller and the price tag higher...and I am stuck, for I've allowed my children to become pleasantly addicted to them. That's how I get them to clean their rooms....promises of Twinkies.

[tommy]

good or bad? sad? i vote bad and sad. loss of jobs. possible loss of a part of our culture. like it or not, Wonder Bread and Twinkies are a part of our culture. pop culture perhaps, but culture nonetheless.

[Suzanne F]

Not to worry. There are companies out there that buy brands in order to continue them. They do it because they know they can make money on the brands. (Why else? ) If IBC goes under, I doubt their brands will disappear.

[johnnyd]

True: the passing of a cultural icon and the jobs that go with it's manufacture are lamentable, but those foods are part of a forty-odd-year-old trend of "convenience" foods that, perhaps unwittingly, got americans started on the obesity problem, and food conglomerates into big profits by providing low-cost, minimaly nutritional content in a seductive wrapping. Now the free market is cleaning house, our nutritional standards are higher and the twinkie replacement is on the drawing board somewhere with better ingredients, and an able workforce is standing by ready to go make 'em. Plus Ça Change...

[tommy]

...in a perfect world.

[Hest88]

I've always hated Wonder Bread, even as a kid, and haven't eaten a Twinkie in maybe 15 years. However, I can be hopelessly sentimental about childhood foods, so I do feel a bit of a twinge.

[col klink]

Here's the link to the Twinkie bankruptcy.

I don't know how to feel. I suppose I'll feel bad for all of those that will those their jobs. I'm with Suzanne; I have a hard time believing that this will stop the production of Twinkies -- I'm sure somebody will buy the rights and make more.

[FistFullaRoux]

Please don't take my Twinkies away.... They are evil little things, but they define comfort food....

[cakewalk]

Now the free market is cleaning house, our nutritional standards are higher and the twinkie replacement is on the drawing board somewhere with better ingredients, and an able workforce is standing by ready to go make 'em. Plus Ça Change...

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Wow. Where do you live?

[alacarte]

Twinkies rock.

Did you know they originally had banana filling? It was changed to vanilla when WWII came in and bananas were shipped to the boys overseas, creating a banana shortage in the U.S.

[Big Bunny]

Just thinking about twinkies makes my teeth hurt.

BB

[Bux]

Maybe they'll bake up a big batch before they close and we'll have them forever, which is about half the shelf life of a twinkie. I suspect it's the sugar that keep the preservatives alive.

[AccidentalHedonist]

Good or Bad?

If you would have asked me 20+ years ago, I probably would have been a little more upset...but now as an adult, I realize that even companies have lifespans. I would think that the youth today might be a little bothered, but the reality is that there are many other sweets that a child can choose from (of course, as Steve Almond alerted us to, not as many as in years past).

I feel bad for all whose livelihoods are to be affected, but as an icon that has seen better days, I can barely muster a 'Meh' to see them go away, if they even go at all.

Now Tasty-Cakes... that's another matter entirely.

[snowangel]

Wow. I've never had a Twinkie. Peter had one at a friend's house once and said it was "weird. Mom, your chocolate cake is better, especially when you have whipped cream or ice cream." Am I depriving my kids?

[herbacidal]

Here's the link to the Twinkie bankruptcy.

I don't know how to feel. I suppose I'll feel bad for all of those that will those their jobs. I'm with Suzanne; I have a hard time believing that this will stop the production of Twinkies -- I'm sure somebody will buy the rights and make more.

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Yea, Twinkies and whatever else will be made by someone.

What isn't certain is whether or not they will continue to make them the same way. You'd like to believe they'll leave well enough alone, but the new makers may not be so wise.

[alacarte]

Interesting if you read the various press accounts about WHY IBC is declaring bankruptcy. According to some accounts, they are using the excuse du jour -- that the low-carb craze is hurting the bottom line.

Other accounts (for example, the WSJ's extensive front-page article today) blame "a fumbled quest for a formula to make baked goods last longer." By changing the (already questionable) formula of Wonder Bread and other products to give it a longer shelf life, they were hoping to reduce frequency of deliveries and close plants.

Oops.

[elfin]

Ding Dongs and Hostess chocolate cupcakes are also Hostess products (and more tasty than Twinkies IMHO). I do not think that the bankruptcy is due to the low carb craze-people who eat Twinkies etc. frankly don't care about carbs. I also do not think that it is in response to a more nutritionally conscience culture-everyday more super sugar cereals and sweet snacks are on the market. The stuff has been on the shelves for 40 plus years. I do not recall seeing Twinkies etc. go the route of product tie-ins such as Shrek or some other Madison Ave. creation de jour. My kids see a box of anything with Shrek on it and they want it. I do not recall seeing any TV ads either. Old products such as Jello and Kool-aid still try and stay current with the times.

[alacarte]

My kids see a box of anything with Shrek on it and they want it.

I don't think your kids are alone in that sentiment. I've always wondered why merchandising on food items (and other items, for that matter) appeal so powerfully to children. And many grown-ups too.

[winesonoma]

But what will I deep fry now?

[tommy]

I don't think your kids are alone in that sentiment. I've always wondered why merchandising on food items (and other items, for that matter) appeal so powerfully to children.  And many grown-ups too.

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corporations are always doing that kind of marketing to make more money. am i right suzanne?

[herbacidal]

But what will I deep fry now?

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You mean you don't deep fry Little Debbies?

[AccidentalHedonist]

But what will I deep fry now?

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And snickers bars are now de rigeur :-)

[winesonoma]

Don't let this out but the plans for the deep fried whole pig are underway.