Death of the Ding-Dong, Twinkie, Wonder Bread: Hostess to Close

Twinkies. Hostess Cupcakes. Wonder Bread. Ding-dongs.

They will be gone forever, with reports that Hostess Brands, Inc., said Friday that it will sell off or close down its 82-year old business. Done in, the CEO claims, by labor union action.

Hostess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January.

The company has been challenged by not only by snarly labor relations, and a national strike by its second-largest labor union, but also, posits the Wall Street Journal, by consumers switching to healthier foods and high ingredient costs. 

One caveat: The Journal says that Hostess has threatened liquidation before, and not followed through.

The move puts 18,500 workers out of their jobs, CNN reports.

What do you think about this end to a junk-food kingdom?