Hostess put out of business by dispute

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A messy labor battle between the bakers union at Hostess Brands, the company that makes Twinkies, Cupcakes and Wonder Bread, resulted in the company closing up shop Friday.

CEO Gregory Rayburn had strong words for the unions, which he sees as responsible for the demise of the company.

"The option is, if you think there's something better, you should go find that job. But that doesn't mean you should strike and put 17,000 or 18,000 other people out of work and their families out of work just because you're unhappy with the terms," he stated.

America's trend toward healthier snacks has also taken a toll on the company. Locally, in the Buffalo-Niagara region, this will most likely impact about 45-50 workers, mainly at a distribution center and several Wonder Hostess Outlet stores.

"We're not just some greedy union workers. We all have families out here, risking mortgages, car payments, everything," added Steven Metcalf, a Hostess union employee.

The company, which has been around for more than 80 years, is one of the most recognizable in the business. And now it's expected to sell off those brands to other interested parties.

In the meantime, after the last few boxes are gone from store shelves, there will be some that will certainly miss their Twinkies and HoHos. But if you really need your Hostess fix, one of the Canadian bakeries that produces the brands out of Mississauga, Ontario has no intention of going out of business in Canada.