[toesuf94]

As a supplier to the baking industry, one other major issue facing Hostess/Sweetheart Baking is the age of the plants they use. Most are over 50 years old and very inefficient. The costs of the labor coupled with much needed machinery updates are the main reasons Hostess is where it is at today. It is pretty sad that a company with assets that are paid off cannot afford to update plants due to the costs of labor overwhelming them in a shrinking market. I am sure the names and products will live on...just in a new plant with up to date equipment that will do the work of these plants with a third or less of the people they have now.