Posted on 01/10/2012 6:45:05 PM PST by 6SJ7
Hostess Brands Inc. is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as soon as this week, said people familiar with the matter, a move that would mark the second significant court restructuring for the Twinkies and Wonder Bread baker in the past several years.
The privately held Irving, Texas, company, which employs roughly 19,000 people and carries more than $860 million in debt, has been facing a cash squeeze amid high labor costs and rising prices for sugar, flour and other ingredients, according to people familiar with the matter. Those costs together have proved higher than the company's roughly $2.5 billion in annual sales, creating losses and cash shortfalls, the people said.
Hostess also owes more than $50 million to vendors, which have been demanding payments on shortened time frames because of Hostess's financial condition, one of the people said. Most of those goods and services were provided to Hostess within the past three weeks or so.
Hostess's filing would mark what is known as a Chapter 22 proceeding in restructuring circles, since the company had already sought bankruptcy protection once before.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
IMO it’s not just Twinkies that taste different but I opened a box of Raisin Bran the other day and the taste and appearance was different. Just two of a whole string of foods that are just no longer the same. Makes me very angry. Seems like nothing tastes the same as it used to.
I haven’t seen a Hostess product in years. At the grocery store it’s all Little Debbie and at convenience stores it’s some off brand. The best Hostess product was French Pastry but they didn’t carry it for long back in like the ‘70s.
The finest dessert in the world is a frozen Hostess cupcake with a glass of cold, whole milk. Period!
Nooooooooooo. Not Twinkies. As Queen of the Twinkies how did this happen? Why wasn’t I told? Heads will roll I tell ya.
“Seems like nothing tastes the same as it used to.”
Seriously, you might want to mention that to your doctor.
Hard to think of a more disgusting food than a twinkie.
I agree. Ring Dings don't taste the same either. I wonder if they changed the filling.
Ah, but now Funnybones, they are as good as ever.
“Hard to think of a more disgusting food than a twinkie.”
They aren’t my cup of tea either. But when did I say anything about twinkies?????
Actually at one point they had a light Twinkie. It was less calories, less sweet and lighter. Much better than the original...guess it didn’t catch on cause they disappeared. Well, now looks like the original is gonna dissappear too!
Hostess foolishly ruined their products when they went cheap and changed the fillings in a lot of their products. I also remember the old Twinkies back in the ‘70s—they were delicious and cost about 15 cents a package. I think they thought no one would notice and that people would buy them anyway. Many people my age don’t think they have changed and that they taste the same, which tells me that they probably didn’t enjoy them that much because if they did they would have noticed the difference decades ago. Same for Suzi-Q’s, ding dongs, and the cupcakes. Now they cost about $1.50 and taste like grease. I never buy any of these any more. If they went back to the old recipe I would definitely buy them. Same with Chips Ahoy cookies. They used to have a sweet, distinct taste-now they taste like cardboard and the chocolate is cheap and they taste like all of the other brands out there. Awful.
What a shame.
Neil Cavuto’s Yodels are in danger of disappearing?
It’s another Michelle Obama healthy-eating plot.
Sad to see this. A Hostess plant in town, and a Sara Lee plant, are both going under.
Twinkies and Rasin Bran. Now that's fusion cuisine! ;-)
I always liked their "Little Debbie has a snack for you" ad campaign (snicker).
How about a Big Mac?
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