Hostess’s retail sales in the 52 weeks ended Aug. 9 totaled just over $1 billion, according to market research firm IRI. Mr. Toler wouldn’t disclose earnings, saying only that pleased with our “We’re profitability.” Hostess still has a ways to go in expanding distribution. Hostess products are now carried in more than 100,000 convenience stores in the U.S., up from 50,000 previously, but short of its initial target of 110,000 by the end of 2013. want to be sold everywhere a candy bar is sold, whether it’s an “We airport kiosk or a vending machine,” Mr. Toler said. (Candy bars are carried in about 120,000 convenience stores.) International expansion also is a priority, he said. Hostess is entering Mexico and Canada and broadening its reach in Europe and the Caribbean. Mr. Toler said that while his focus now is on growing the business and expanding Hostess beyond snack cakes, plan would be to make it “our a public company. There is no timeline for that yet. We’ll know when the time is right.” M&A Deal Activity on Pace for Record Year Aug 10, 2015 By Dana Mattioli and Dan Strumpf Companies hunting for growth drive volume
Hostess’s retail sales in the 52 weeks ended Aug. 9 totaled just over $1 billion, according to market research firm IRI. Mr. Toler wouldn’t disclose earnings, saying only that “We’re pleased with our profitability.” Hostess still has a ways to go in expanding distribution. Hostess products are now carried in more than 100,000 convenience stores in the U.S., up from 50,000 previously, but short of its initial target of 110,000 by the end of 2013. “We want to be sold everywhere a candy bar is sold, whether it’s an airport kiosk or a vending machine,” Mr. Toler said. (Candy bars are carried in about 120,000 convenience stores.) International expansion also is a priority, he said. Hostess is entering Mexico and Canada and broadening its reach in Europe and the Caribbean. Mr. Toler said that while his focus now is on growing the business and expanding Hostess beyond snack cakes, “our plan would be to make it a public company. There is no timeline for that yet. We’ll know when the time is right.” M&A Deal Activity on Pace for Record Year Aug 10, 2015 By Dana Mattioli and Dan Strumpf Companies hunting for growth drive volume