Business & Tech

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

Reports are that Hostess is starting to close down after a labor dispute. End of a beloved era, or good riddance to junk food heaven?

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

They will be gone forever, with reports that Hostess Brands, Inc.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.

Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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.

Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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

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

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Narragansett-South Kingstown