Hostess bankruptcy, closing plants

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The impending national shutdown of Hostess, the company that makes classic junk food treats like Twinkies and Ding Dongs, is creating a mad rush of people looking to stock up before the sweets are gone for good.

It was an amazing sight to see people flocking to the thrift store to get their last taste of Hostess products. A table of discounted Ho-Ho's was quickly cleared. Other shelves were stripped bare.

"All the good stuff's going to be gone, but you know the workers, that's a lot of jobs that are going to be lost, too; it's a sad ending, in this economy, that's the last thing we need," San Jose resident Sandra Aguilar said.

At the bakery in Oakland, Colombo employees were still reeling from the bad news.

Some shoppers have been eating Hostess snacks since they were kids, even though critics say it's not the healthiest choice.

"Do I look like I eat healthy," San Jose resident Nikki Shank asked.

Colombo, one of the oldest names in San Francisco sourdough bread, may be joining Parisian, Larraburu and Toscano in the history books. John Vrattos worked at Parisian and Colombo for 30 years before becoming a sausage maker.

"That was the blue-collar guy that came home for dinner, that was the bread that we represented at a fair price, a good product at a fair price, that's what we represented to the Bay Area," he said.

As Hostess products disappear, a door may be opening for other bakers to fill the void.

"People will look elsewhere because I do think that families are trying to watch what their kids eat a lot more these days," Love's Cupcakes' Vanessa Zarazua said.

Hostess already has asked the bankruptcy court for approval to shut down, but a response is not expected until sometime next. No one knows how long supplies will last as fast as they're being snapped up.

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oakland, bankruptcy, food, strike, business, david louie

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