Triad Hostess Fans Get First Batch of Twinkies & Cakes

They are back! Hostess brands are officially on the market this week. Some Triad residents are excited about getting one of the first batches of Twinkies in eight months.

“This is truly a product that is making a sweet come back!” says Jim Pegram of Bethabara.

Pegram picked up a box of Twinkies for his grandchildren at the Walmart on Hanes Mill Road in Winston-Salem Monday.

The store is one of nearly 3,000 Walmart locations currently selling Hostess treats. The official re-launch date was July 15, but Walmart began offering Twinkies, cupcakes and other Hostess items to customers over the weekend.

Derrick Gibson of Winston-Salem couldn't wait to grab a box of the spongy yellow treats.

“I grew up off of Hostess brands and when they took them away, I was like oh man! When they came back I was so excited. I was in the car with my mom and we heard it on the radio and I said lets head to Walmart. There is nothing like them,” says Gibson.

Merial Heath of Winston-Salem loves, “My Donettes. I just love them! I'm so glad they came back because they are my favorite.”

“I also like the Donettes,” said Denise Atwood of Winston-Salem. She says, “They are so moist and delicious. Seeing them in the store again really made my day.”

Last year, Twinkies and other Hostess items went on hiatus, after a labor dispute and financial issues led to the company's bankruptcy filing.  The company has since restructured and sold chunks of its brands to different buyers.

One of them, Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo bought Twinkies and other Hostess cakes for $410 million.

Hostess says many of its products will be delivered directly to distribution centers and retail suppliers, instead of individual stores. The move will allow the brand to reach more customers.

Wal-Mart is selling Twinkies in an exclusive collectible box that says “First Batch” on the packaging and has the new Twinkies tagline: “The Sweetest Comeback in the History of Ever.”  

The company says the products will taste the same. Meanwhile, Hostess has been drumming up excitement with loyal fans about the return of the sweet treats through social media sites.

Hostess says it will roll-out some products in stages. Fruit pies are expected to arrive on store shelves in the coming week, and the remaining hostess products are expected to be back in stores by fall.