Thursday, November 22, 2012
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Thursday, November 22, 2012 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery |
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Fielder’s Choice No more Twinkies? My wife Pam rushed out and bought some Twinkies, Ding Dongs and CupCakes. She got the news early early Friday morning that Hostess was closing. My first thought was – “no more Twinkie pies.” Her favorite dessert to prepare and the family’s favorite to eat is made with the famous Hostess Twinkies as the primary ingredient. The company, which I’ve known since childhood as the maker of some of America’s greatest snack foods, is shutting down operations. Apparently, Pam wasn’t the only one rushing to the grocery store to buy the popular and tradition-rich Hostess products. One of several reports I read, this one coming from Sacramento, Calif., said food stores and bakeries were cleaned out quickly after the announcement. The article, entitled “Food stores cleaned out of Twinkies after closing announced” and found at Examiner.com, explained the addiction of so many. “Twinkie addiction is formed in early childhood by habit, as parents introduced preschool children to the sugary cakes, and it affects several generations since early childhood. It’s the white flour, sugar, and marshmallow cream filling that makes people come back for more. The flavor of the sugar makes the brain light up with hormones that eventually develop into a habit, a familiarity, if not a craving.” Hostess’ closing is discouraging. Yes, because I might not ever be able to eat Twinkie pie again or enjoy a Hostess CupCake like I did just before typing this column Sunday afternoon. Yes, because I like the company’s Wonder Bread, too. Our discussion at the office Friday leaned toward – surely, someone will buy the company or the recipes and keep making Twinkies, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs and Fruit Pies and so forth. But more so, it’s sad because of the 18,500 workers and their families. It’s a devastating emotional and economic blow as they suddenly enter the holiday season without jobs. According to reports, a nationwide strike by its workers crippled its ability to make and deliver its products, in turn, forcing the company to shut down. “We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said CEO Gregory Rayburn in a statement. Hostess filed for bankruptcy in January, its second trip to bankruptcy court since 2004, according to CNN. The job loss is hitting close to home, in nearby Memphis, Tenn. – more than 200 employees there. Hostess products were flying off the shelves there, too. Retail outlets across the United States were scheduled to stay open for seven to 10 days to sell out the remaining stock. At the time of this writing, just a couple of days after the announced closing, they may already be gone. Hostess brands date as far back as 1888. It’s one of those companies that seemed indestructible. I did see later Sunday that Twinkies may be saved after all. So maybe the Twinkie pie I’m going to have over the Thanksgiving holidays won’t be my last after all. |
    
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