If you are tired of bleak economic news, and you only want to read good news, this blog is for you!
Interstate Bakeries - the makers of Wonder Bread, Hostess Twinkies, Drakes Cakes, hot dog buns and other products - emerged from voluntary Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in early February. The Kansas City company employs 22,000 people nationwide, 450 people in Jamaica, Queens and 350 people elsewhere in New York State.
Interstate Bakeries took over Hostess Brands in 1995. Their products are part of American culture. Twinkies have been around since 1930! And who hasn't rolled a piece of Wonder Bread into a ball and thrown it at a younger sibling or at a classmate in the school cafeteria?
There is also good news for those of us who are watching our weight. We can enjoy "Twinkie Bites," which are only 100 calories per pack!
The survival of Interstate Bakeries is particularly good economic news for Queens. Queens has lost many major bakeries over the years: Silvercup (now a television studio), Taystee Bread and Stroehmann Bakeries. The Jamaica, Queens factory makes hot dog buns, which are in great demand in New York City, due to the proximity of stadiums, a multitude of hot dog joints, and an army of hot dog vendors. Things could only get better for hot dogs - and buns. Hot dogs "with the works" make for an inexpensive "recession" lunch.
Sources: Crain's New York Business 2/22/09, The New York Times 2/5/09
