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"Hostess has been in trouble for a while. In 2009, the company filed for bankruptcy. Then, on November 16, Hostess announced it would shut down 36 plants and layoff 18,000 workers after a year-long battle with the Bakers Union. Even the company&amp;#039;s website sadly announced,&amp;quot;Hostess Brands is closed.&amp;quot; With the shocking news that the snack food company would be closing up shop after more than 80 years in business, people panicked, worrying that the company&amp;#039;s 30 brands \u2014 including beloved Twinkies \u2014 would go under as well. More From Delish: Twinkie Stuffing and Other Junk-Food-Inspired Ideas for the Turkey Fearful snackers took to social media to express their concerns. TMZ reported that Jennifer Hudson&amp;#039;s boyfriend, David Otunga, even tweeted a photo of himself clearing the shelves of his favorite cream-filled products. He was not alone. Others saw it as an opportunity to make a buck by selling the cakes for a premium on sites like Ebay and Craigslist. According to the New York Times, some even sold their stockpiles for thousands of dollars, gaining a huge profit margin. As with any product that no longer gets produced, (remember the nearly 20-year-old gallon of McDonald&amp;#039;s Michael Jordan barbecue sauce?), the belief was that the minute the supply disappeared, the value would increase.   More From Delish: Snack Food Rewind: A History of Our Favorite Treats It isn&amp;#039;t just individuals who are looking to celebrate the last of the spongy cream-filled cakes. The W Times Square announced it would offer a limited-time Hostess cocktail paring menu, including The Dinger, a spin on a Chocolate Manhattan served with a side of two Hostess Ding Dongs; The Sno Ho Ho, a Chocolat Raspberi Martini paired with Hostess Sno-Balls; and The TBR (Twinkie Blue Ribbon), a bottle of PBR paired with a classic yellow Twinkie. Why Pabst Blue Ribbon? News spread yesterday that the brewing company could make a bid for America&amp;#039;s favorite snack. The New York Times reported that Hostess plans to sell off its assets at an auction overseen by a U.S. bankruptcy judge. Given the clear panic that the closure announcement caused for dedicated followers, other brands see the sale as an opportunity to tap into the Twinkie-loving fan base. The Wall Street Journal reported that the parent company of Pabst, C. Dean Metropoulos &amp;amp;amp; Co., has made its interest in Hostess&amp;#039;s brands clear given &amp;quot;a liquidated Hostess would be free of its collective-bargaining agreements.&amp;quot; However, the judge put a hold on liquidation and ordered that the company and union officials head back to the table for more talks. For those who anxiously wonder how long the stores will stock their favorite Hostess snacks and plan to hoard their supply, the New York Times notes, &amp;quot;Twinkies do not last forever.&amp;quot;  Find more great food content on Delish: Search for the perfect recipe from our homepage Find out the latest food news Get a recipe book to save your favorite dishes Sign up for our free newsletters Check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.delish.com/food/news/a39345/hostess-collapse-causes-consumer-pandemonium/>