Last Updated on June 12, 2017
When All in the Family was on the air some thirty years ago, a running joke was the importance of Edith Bunker remembering to place a Twinkie in Archie’s lunchbox.
Archie’s long-since gone, and now Twinkies aren’t feeling so well, either.
Hostess, the company that has produced the tasty treats since 1930, is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to unnamed sources said to be “familiar” with the situation.   Hostess also makes Wonder Brea, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs, and Sno Balls, among others.
It was a shortage — not of money, but ingredients — that led to the creation of the Twinkie to begin with. Jimmy Dewar, who had been hired as a delivery man for the plant, began pondering Strawberry Shortcake treats the company produced.   Those cakes were only produced during strawberry season.   He came up with a way to use the same kind of cake, but to fill it with creme filling instead of strawberries, and thus the Twinkie was born.
But times have been particularly rough on the company, those insiders say.   The company, which employs 19,000 people, faces debt and rising costs for sugar, flour and other ingredients.   If the filing does happen, it would be the second court restructuring for Hostess.
I’m always sorry to see a well-known brand, particularly one that has that many employees, facing this level of money problems.   The last thing we need is more layoffs and more unemployment. Or, for that matter, fewer treats in the sweets aisle.