.
Feedback

White Plains Judge Sends Twinkies Bankruptcy to Mediation

A White Plains bankruptcy judge has ordered Hostess back into mediation with union workers.

Instead of approving a proposed bankruptcy filing by the 82-year-old Hostess Company- maker of popular snack food brands like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Ho-Hos, a White Plains court has reportedly ordered management and members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International union to consider mediation to settle their current contract dispute.

Both groups agreed and will enter closed door sessions Tuesday.

Late last week, the Hostess management announced they could not come to a contract agreement with the union workers and would go out of business. The announcement created a minor frenzy as people made a run to buy their favorite snack cakes and treats. 

In other reports, there may already be other companies interested in buying the popular Twinkies brand including Georgia based Flowers Foods which also makes Tastykake snack foods. Interest has also reportedly been expressed by Bimbo Group of Mexico; the company makes Sara Lee and Entenmann's food products.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from White Plains Patch? Find your Local Patch »

mike sullivan November 19, 2012 at 11:33 pm
sounds like the company tried to bust the union ,but they called their bluff.Hostess never had any intensions of going out of business.They will be back up and running after the holidays
FredoFashionsHimselfAWriter November 19, 2012 at 11:43 pm
Thank God. Is that true, we might still be able to eat this poison again after the holidays. God Bless America.
smellypants November 20, 2012 at 12:00 am
The Company should bust the union. Unions are the downfall of this economy. Ship the jobs to lower cost manufacturing markets.
Walden Macnair November 20, 2012 at 12:26 am
Smelly, I did some home work on this one and although the unions finally striked, there was a lot more to this than that. You see Hostess was taken over by a private equity firm who mortgaged it to the hilt and then when they couldn't meet their bills got the union to agree to pay cuts and benefits reductions. At the same time they've had six CEO's in eight years (none of whom had business experience in running a bakery of this size or any size for that matter) But even without experience the CEO got a 300% raise and brought in over 2 million a year along with a highly paid senior management team.
Then when the company was effectively bankrupt, they figured they'd sell it and reap some more profits for their investors and just put all the employees out of work. So you see Smelly, it wasn't the unions, it was a private equity firm and a bunch of rich guys who don't give a damn about anybody but themselves. .
smellypants November 20, 2012 at 12:33 am
If the Company is "effectively bankrupt" that means it has little or no value to anyone. So, their investors lose their whole investment. Nice try but the real problem here, as in a lot of other American businesses, is greedy unions. No wonder so many jobs wind up in Asia.
Bob Rohr November 20, 2012 at 12:39 am
What Walden says is correct. These Corporate raiders come in clean out a Company and blame it on Unions. If it were not for Unions there would be no 5 day work week, overtime or Workman's Compensation.
smellyp@nts November 20, 2012 at 12:41 am
unions are fine in principle, but its union leaders who abuse them and turn the public against them..
Nummy November 20, 2012 at 12:42 am
So our we to give up unions and become Asia, can't wait to work for you smelly at 8 buck an hour.
smellyp@nts November 20, 2012 at 12:49 am
none of whom had experience running a bakery? c'mon. where's ur business sense? A ceo is a ceo is a ceo. Really hurt ibm that Lou Gerstner had no computer experience, huh? ya sure got your stereotype rap down good tho. "rich guys who don't give a damn about anybody...." i never heard of a poor philanthropist, did u?
smellypants November 20, 2012 at 12:57 am
Typical uniformed, drink the kool aid mentality. How do corporate "raiders" ( a quaint term from the 1980's) "clean out" companies and blame it in on the unions? Do you mean clean out the "dead wood"... this is more like it. Many US companies are fat, dumb and happy and headed for certain death at the hands of foreign competition. Private equity firms do a noble and useful job in dealing with these dead beats and turning these companies into strong and viable entities capable of competing on the world's stage. (All the world is a stage as you know)
smellypants November 20, 2012 at 12:58 am
You are kind of cute Nummy, where have I seen you before? You look like someone famous.
smellyp@nts November 20, 2012 at 12:58 am
thx for confirming unions and entitlements are one and the same. nice work if u can get it
smellypants November 20, 2012 at 01:08 am
You're welcome brother
smellyp@nts November 20, 2012 at 01:12 am
don't mention it, sis
Capt. Crunch November 20, 2012 at 05:51 am
Why is a Twinkie considered a poison ? Have you ever seen the tv shows that show the viewers how food products are made ? The factories are spot-less and use computers and robots in the production, which begins with same ingredients as we use in our kitchens. The end result is food which is quickly packaged and shipped to consumers so they can enjoy the freshest product, which often are enriched with vitamins and minerals.
Chris Clement November 20, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@Walden, thanks for showing us the other side of the coin. Is logical and makes sense. As for unions, they once were necessary and did give us the 5-day work week, and then some. But IMO they've mostly outlived their usefulness. Union heads became greedy, on the backs of consumers. AND tax payers. Their requests (demands) are not sustainable. IMO, we're in a mess due to greed.
Tyler Durden November 20, 2012 at 02:02 pm
One time in 3rd grade I traded a Ring Ding for two Twinkies. Best trade ever.
peter homolya November 20, 2012 at 04:00 pm
we elected a president with no experince , and we are going bankrupt faster than any other leader. why not a bakery?
John Gruber November 20, 2012 at 04:55 pm
right Bob, unions have a purpose, at this point though they are taking more than they need. They certainly due have a continuing purpose because you can bet companies would take advantage. They need to find common ground between the company and the worker
Liz Claire November 20, 2012 at 08:42 pm
Regarding "poison", Capt. Crunch, BusinessWeek reports:
"Maybe the most surprising thing about the company’s history is that it has lasted this long, said Steve Ettlinger, the New York-based author of “Twinkie, Deconstructed.” Petroleum Based Twinkies’ moisture comes from oil, their vitamins are fermented or created out of petroleum, and the main ingredient in the cream is probably an emulsifier called Polysorbate 60, Ettlinger said." http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-19/twinkie-history-spiced-with-murder-hints-icon-to-survive None of those ingredients are in my kitchen,
Walden Macnair November 20, 2012 at 08:54 pm
Capt., Whether Twinkies are enriched with Vitamin D or not is really a moot point. The point is, why is Hostess going bankrupt. The parent company of Hostess has made an offer to the union workers. That offer calls for an immediate 8% reduction in compensation followed by an additional 27 to 32% over five years.
Hostess knows that this would never be accepted and the wall streeters who run the company from Silver Point and Monarch that own the company stand to make a fortune by liquidating it. Certainly, over the years the cost of union labor has risen and one could blame them for part of the demise, but it seems the truth is this was a planned failure. Whether Hostess gets liquidated or stays in business, the vultures at Silver Point and Monarch still make money. This isn't capitalism anymore, this is exploiting people for profit. The hell with the workers, the hell with the families, the hell with the community. Just get me that new Lamborghini. Hope they find out what Karma is.
Ruthmarie Hicks November 21, 2012 at 02:35 pm
Anyone with a handle like SMELLY PANTS is no capitalist...he's just drinking the tea party Kool -Aide. In other words- he's just another sheeple with no knowledge whatsoever. 5 day work week? 8 hour work day? I haven't seen that in YEARS. The weakening of unions has created a 24/7 workday world where there is no down time. We need the unions to get back on their feet.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Clifford Blau June 15, 2013 at 09:48 am
It's not true that parking is required. You could do as I do and walk there (assuming it isRead More actually the White Plains office you are referring to and not Harrison), or take a bus, or a taxi, or have someone drop you off and pick you up. And if you aren't happy with their service, go somewhere else. There are lots of doctors not affiliated with Westmed.
Cathy G June 15, 2013 at 04:41 pm
Clifford, thanks for your two cents! How lucky for you that you can walk to your doctor's office andRead More not have to pay to park!
Raymond Lautersack June 19, 2013 at 05:55 pm
There are two expenses that I always seem to have a difficult time accepting - parking fees andRead More tolls. I too was disappoint as I am sure many were to see that the WestMed Medical Group initiated a parking charge of $2.00 for each visit regardless of the time actually spent at the White Plains facility. Upon hearing this new policy I had to step back and look at what is going on around us and looking at the bigger picture. Parking fees are a way of life for all of us who live in and around White Plains. Tolls are a way of life for any who travel in New York State and New Jersey. A charge of $2.00 per visit is less than a cup of coffee and for the medical care received, you cannot put a price on it. A $2.00 parking fee does not make nor does it detract from the 'fine organization" that WestMed Medical Group has been and remains. My visits to WestMed Medical Group unfortunately have been far more over the past several years than I care to admit however I have the complete satisfaction and comfort knowing that I am getting the best care that I can get anywhere, near and far. I am always treated professionally, with respect and never leave feeling rushed, uninformed or uncomfortable with anyone that I have come in contact with which includes the building receptionist, the clerical staff at check in and all those beyond the waiting room areas. We must be our own health advocate and if anyone feels rushed, I would suggest that they slow the pace down with the doctor and perhaps make use of the WestMed web site and send a secure message to the doctor a few days prior to your appointment with your specific concerns and issues that you'd like to discuss. When everyone is prepared, things will go much easier and timing will not be an issue. I have even had the opportunity to use the WestMed Medical Group Ambulatory Center at Theall Road in Rye. I've used both White Plains Hospital and Greenwich Hospitals in the past and they are both excellent however I found equal if not better attention and care at the Theall Road Ambulatory Center. As for where the Customer Service Center is, it should not make any difference with the service provided. If running a Center is North Carolina is more efficient and cost effective, than so be it. It is not like moving jobs outside the country as so many corporations have done and continue to do. Everyone you speak to in the Center speaks well, has the doctors calendar and the ability to make an appointment for any open time frame. What more would anyone expect of a Service Center whose mission it is to make timely appointments for patients to see the doctor of their choice.