Twinkies-Maker Filing for Bankruptcy....for a second time?

By now, many of have heard that Hostess Brands Inc., maker of Ho Hos, Twinkies, and Wonder Bread, has filed for bankruptcy. This isn't the first time either. They actually filed Chapter 11 in 2004. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Twinkies producer says the current cost structure is "not competitive" due to labor costs. The sale of Twinkies is also reportedly down, with a 2 percent drop in sales last year.

Could this recent event have something to do with the fact that people in the U.S. are changing their unhealthy habits? With a drop in sales like that, it seems that the explanation could possibly be just that. I point this out because it's a wonderful example of what happens when you're not in touch with your customer base and their current needs. No matter what business you're in, you HAVE to stay in the loop with what the public is asking for.

Obviously we can't expect a non-fat Twinkie...or maybe we can? What ever the answer, it's obvious that this company needs to do a little checking-in with their audience.

Hostess also manufactures Ho Hos, Sno Balls, and Wonder Bread, but the Twinkies decline is pretty fascinating. Luckily, the company has enough funding to continue running for now. We're sure plenty of folks will be stockpiling Twinkies for the zombie apocalypse!

Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/twinkies-maker-files-chapter-11#ixzz1jHgNsUEE

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