Day 262 ~ They're Back!

I used to sell these!

....but they are not being sold by me!

See you tomorrow.

Day 140 ~ Remember Hostess

Old Hostess Depot

With news that Twinkies will be back in the market by Summer - read here for more details-thoughts went to my old job. Here is a picture of the depot where I used to work. This was taken by my fellow former employee  Tim, days after we were closed.  Looks lonely there with no trucks.

Good luck to the new owners of Twinkies!

Day 70 ~ Some of my Hostess Cake Friends!

Stevo waving hello

I've said it before but besides missing a paycheck ever since Hostess went out of business, I miss hanging out with some great people. We all drove our own trucks but we kept in touch all day long by annoying each other with texts and pics. It was fun to complain about Management with them and to make general observations.  

Sitting down on the job!

Steve found it easier to pack out the bottom shelves while he sat down. We all used to make fun of him for that!

Timmy

A rare picture of Timmy because he hates to have pics of himself but he condescended to allow this one.

Bobby G, famous podcaster of YOU GOT THAT RIGHT fame

Bobby G., actually a Wonder bread guy who the boss would have me help when I wasn't busy doing cake. You have seen him on this blog before.

who is that masked man?

Bobby is always up for a laugh so he'd have pics taken of himself and sent to my phone just to make me chuckle. Above you see him trying on a batman mask in the store.

Christmas tree hat

Yes, he's just a little nuts!

In hospital, but doing well

Bobby had a bit of scare and had to get checked out in the hospital. Thankfully, all turned out to be well. My son Daniel and I went to visit him and say hello.

driving with Bobby G

  For a while, Bobby couldn't drive his truck because of issues with his knee, I believe, so I would be his chauffeur from time to time.

The other Bob

 I used to help Wonder bread guys all the time. Here I am helping Bob Hazelet

LUNCH!!

 Me, Bobby G and our wives, eating at Apple bees!

He's really not that lazy

 Steve sitting down on the job again!

one of my MANY self portraits! 

Me pretending to be bored at work.  I rarely was bored but kept busy all day long.

Yes, we had a great crew at our depot. I wish them all prosperity in their new adventures and I thank each and everyone of them for making the job at Hostess a lot of fun....even on the bad days!

.

Day 53~ That didn't take Long...

new cake where Hostess use to be.

My friend Wayne sent me a picture of "Blue Bird" cakes, delivered by Tasty Kake, I believe and they are in the spot where Hostess/Drakes used to be in Shoprtie in Hamilton Square.  I have never seen this brand before and it looks like they are copying the Hostess Brands "look." I bet you it doesn't taste as good as the Hostess Brands, but maybe I am biased!

Hostess/Drakes Display, a thing of the past

Even if it doesn't yield me a job, I hope that someone brings Hostess and Drakes back to the Supermarkets. It's a piece of America that shouldn't fade away.

See you tomorrow!

Day 34 ~ End of an Era!

not on the road anymore!

My friend Bob sent me this picture the other day and he said, this picture is of something that has gone  The way of the Dodo bird!. It turns out I took this picture from a company van while at a red light and I sent it to him.  But, alas, we shall see these trucks no more on the streets. Hostess Brands will probably be sold off in parts to different companies and while most of the products will survive, it will be sold by other companies.

nearly empty!

my bro-in-law and good friend, Mike took this picture last week from the place he gets coffee in the morning. It is a sad sight not to see this rack full of Hostess cake!

the last one!

And here is the last Hostess item in the store. Mike just sent me a text saying he purchased this muffin before he took the picture. So now the shelf is empty.

Mike is a great guy who has a very interesting blog called, "The Cuban Half" which explores Cuban culture. It is a very interesting read, especially his posts about his most recent visit to Havana. I know he wants to go back again! Check it out:  http://www.thecubanhalf.com/ 

See you tomorrow!

Day 22 ~ Good Bye, Twinkies! Good Bye, Job!

a stack of Twinkies

Here is a picture of a stack of Twinkies that will never make it to the supermarkets.  We heard today that Hostess Brands, baker and distributor of many products like Hostess Cake, Drakes Cakes, Wonder bread and a lot others, is ceasing operations as of Saturday.  So these Twinkies are just sitting there. They will probably be grabbed by the employees who show up today to get an Information Packet which the company has put together. Basically, that packet explains in "Question and Answer" Format (much like a catechism), what happened to the company, what the next step should be for former employees, ect. 

The depot is an hour away from my house and I don't think I am going to make the drive to pick it up.  I am going to ask the mechanic to pick my packet up and I can meet him at his house. He lives closer to me than the depot plus he is gong there today anyway.

deep in thought

My job was to sell cake. I was a route jumper which meant I had to cover vacations and sick calls but when no one in the cake department was out, I would occasionally run a Wonder Bread route. That's what I did yesterday. My last stop in my route jumping career was at the Pick it Deli  in Old Bridge, where I sold my last piece of Hostess Brands, product.  They received 27 Classic White breads, 8 stone ground wheat bread and 5 whole grain white breads.  Their last order. So if you like wonder bread, run up to the Pick it Deli and get it while you can!  The above picture was taken while driving back to the depot with an empty truck; Empty forever!

Rest in Peace, Hostess Brands!

Day 18 ~ An Empty Bread Truck; Results of a Strike!

This is the truck of the famous podcaster of You Got that Right fame, Bobby G!

The Company I work for, Hostess Brands is dealing with a strike. The bakers have rejected the final offer from the company that the other unions, including my Teamster Union, has accepted.  The result, this empty truck! You can see just a couple of rows filled with bread. That was all that came down due to the strike. But this truck is usually full of bread but it is not.

The company announced yesterday that it is closing three bakeries who are on strike. Cincinnati, St. Louis and Seattle. The say if the other bakers don't end the strike soon, they will close down the other bakeries and that will be the end of the company.

I believe them.

http://www.salon.com/2012/11/12/hostess_closing_3_bakeries_following_strike/