Watch CBS News

Hostess Gets OK To Begin Selling Off Brands And Terminate 18,000 Jobs

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A bankruptcy court judge is approving a request by Hostess Brands Inc. to begin winding down its operations.

The ruling came Wednesday after the maker of Twinkies and Ding Dongs failed in last-ditch negotiations to end a strike by its second-largest union.

Hostess now has the green light to terminate the jobs of its 18,000 workers and sell off its brands.

In court Wednesday, Hostess said it needed to begin the liquidation process quickly to take advantage of outside interest in its brands, which a banker said could fetch up to $2.4 billion. That's about how much they generate in annual sales.

Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, has been spending about $1 million a day in payroll without any income since it halted operations last week.

The news comes after a judge, on Monday, ordered the company to mediate with its union in one last effort to resolve their differences.

Are you surprised by the developments?  Share your thoughts in the comments section...

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.