The death of the Twinkie? Please, say it isn't so...

Say it ain’t so.

This morning when I heard this tragic news I nearly came to tears. How can there be a world without Twinkies and Wonder Bread?

“Wonder Bread helps build bodies 12 ways…” (or 10 ways or some such thing) was the commercial I remember as a kid. And what lunch would be complete without Twinkies, Ding Dongs or a pie? Nah, it’s not exactly healthy but when you’re a kid, sometimes lunch is the happening part of the day.

Here’s some of the news story from the wires:

“Hostess Brands Inc. says it’s going out of business after striking workers across the country crippled its ability to make its Twinkies, Ding Dongs and other snacks.

“The company had warned employees that it would file a motion with U.S. Bankruptcy Court Friday seeking permission to shutter its operations and sell its brands if plants hadn’t resumed normal operations by a Thursday evening deadline. The deadline passed without a deal.

“The closing would mean the loss of about 18,500 jobs.

“’I don’t know if they thought that was a bluff,” CEO Gregory Rayburn said on CNBC Friday. He said the financial impact of the strike makes it “too late” to save the company even if workers have a change of heart. That’s because the clients such as retailers decide to stop carrying products when supplies aren’t adequate.

“Rayburn said he’s hopeful that the company will find buyers for its roster of about 30 brands, which include Ho Hos, Dolly Madison, Drake’s and Nature’s Pride snacks. The company books about $2.5 billion in sales a year.

“Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, said its stores will remain open for several days to sell remaining products. Operations at its 33 factories were suspended Friday. The privately held company filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade.

“The move comes after thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike last week after rejecting a contract offer that slashed wages and benefits in September. The bakers union represents about 30 percent of the company’s workforce.”

So there you have it. We seemed to almost lose Tastykake. Now we’re looking at losing Twinkies.

I remember working at the Times-Herald and making routine stops at the Hostess Thrift store on Henderson Road and picking up loaves of bread and bags of snacks. Yes, as an adult. I have a sweet tooth. I admit it.

The best snack ever besides the Twinkie? In the era of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hostess decided to make a pie in their honor. The filling inside was green. Yes, green. Awesome.

Then when our family would go to the Shore for a week’s vacation I’d pick up a couple of bags of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and other treats. The kids loved them and let’s face it, down the Shore that’s all you do anyway is eat junk food.

Alas it sounds like it’s no more.

Please, please, someone buy the operations. How can we possibly have a world with no Twinkies? I bow my head in sadness just thinking about it…

– Andy Hachadorian