The Untold Truth Of Hostess Cakes

There's nothing more nostalgic than a bite-sized sweet treat from Hostess. I remember many happy afternoons accompanying my dad to the Hostess store to pick out anything I wanted. I always went for the bright pink Sno Balls. I've never been a Twinkie gal, but I think I'm in the minority there.

After some tough times, Hostess is back and better than ever. Twinkie sales are up, and they're just as good as you remember. Since Hostess has been around for nearly 100 years, there are plenty of sweet and juicy secrets to share.

More than 10 years after Hostess launched their chocolate cupcakes, they made history with their next treat. In 1930, the company's bakery manager Jimmy Dewer created Twinkies and actually thought of the name on his way to a meeting. He passed a sign for "Twinkle Toe Shoes," and the name Twinkies came to him.

Twinkies came just in time for our country. They were the company's way to make an inexpensive product during the depression. Two of those little sponge cakes were sold for a nickel, and everyone got to enjoy sugar again. That's a reason to celebrate!

Now onto the best product Hostess makes. The Sno Ball didn't hit shelves until after World War II, because it wasn't allowed yet. Because of the flour and sugar rations during the war, Hostess couldn't make something this sweet. After the war, everyone was ready to get their sugar fix again. The Sno Ball is a chocolate cake with a vanilla filling, covered in marshmallow and coconut flakes.

If there's something very familiar about the Sno Ball, there's a reason for that. Iif you peel back the marshmallow, you may get a surprise — the inside cake of a Sno Ball is simply an upside down Hostess cupcake! Work smarter, not harder I guess.

So if Twinkies are powerful enough to inspire murder, what else could they cause someone to do? Well, they may have bought a few votes. In 1986, Minneapolis city council candidate George L. Belair was accused of bribing seniors to vote with Twinkies and other Hostess cakes. He and his campaign team passed out Twinkies to multiple senior groups during the election, which was a big no-no according to the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Belair was actually arrested, but later released and ended up pleading not guilty. ”I had no intention of bribing anybody with Twinkies and Ho Ho's and a cup of coffee,” Belair told The New York Times. Twinkies strike again!

While Twinkies were a featured character in Harrelson's movie, that wasn't enough to save the company. Hostess hit some tough times, especially as consumers began looking for healthier options. Snack cakes that come in plastic and are rumored to last for months on the shelves don't exactly appeal to the Whole Foods crowd. 

By 2012, Hostess had filed for bankruptcy more than once and was taking on major debt. In addition to ignoring the new health trends, they attempted to keep selling their cakes for cheap, while using the same processing techniques they always had. Cuts had to happen somewhere, and they were taken out on the staff. Management cut workers' wages and benefits, and that was not a popular decision.

As a result of all of these factors, Hostess filed for bankruptcy not once, but twice. That's probably why there were some skeptics when Apollo Global Management and investor Dean Metropoulos bought the failing company for over $400 million. "It's not in tune with where customers are going," Bloomberg analyst Ken Shea told Ad Age. "There will be a high level of scrutiny on their ability to grow."

However, this American company has such a rich history that investors were excited to bring it back to life. "Hostess presents a unique opportunity to invest in an iconic brand with strong fundamentals that is poised for continued growth," Gores Group Chairman and CEO Alec Gores said. In the end, Twinkies, Ho Ho's, and all the other Hostess cakes were off the grocery store shelves for a total of seven months before coming back.

Even though Hostess is a massive brand, the executives chose to partner with a small, local ad agency instead of a New York City giant. This decision paid off for them, too. Charlotte-based ad agency Tattoo Projects made some major changes to the company's approach. They launched a media campaign for the company's new, deep-fried Twinkies, and people lost their minds. They started trending on Twitter, which is a major accomplishment for a company old enough to remember the Great Depression.

"We wanted a true partner to work with and develop a strong social media presence for the Hostess brand," Hostess Chief Marketing Officer Burke Raine told Charlotte Business Journal. "We chose Tattoo Projects because they are a bold and energetic company that delivers great creative and drives sales." 

Unfortunately even fake food like Hostess cakes can cause food poisoning. In early 2017, Hostess voluntarily recalled its special holiday edition Twinkies. The white chocolate peppermint Twinkies actually sound amazing, but may have been contaminated. The company shared that they believed the milk powder used to make the white chocolate coating may have been contaminated with salmonella.

Salmonella is a foodborne illness and nothing to mess around with. It causes fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It's especially dangerous for babies, young children, and senior citizens. Fortunately no one reported becoming sick after eating the Twinkies.

Because Hostess knows it needs to keep things new and fresh to avoid their past bankruptcy problems, they're experimenting with new flavors. The deep-fried Twinkies were such a hit, that they decided to branch out.

Some of the other new products include Hostess Sweet Shop brownies, and returning favorite Suzy Q cakes. They've also added chocolate, peanut butter chocolate, and fudge covered Twinkies, peanut butter fudge Ho Ho's and white fudge Ding Dongs, just to name a few. They've even made a place for themselves in the freezer isle, with a line of snack-cake inspired ice cream products.