EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) Twinkies are not just snack cakes in Emporia. They’re something to celebrate, which the city will do with a Twinkies Festival on July 15, the day Hostess Brands plans to return them to store shelves.
The Emporia Gazette reports the event will also honor the company that’s reopening the city’s Hostess bakery after buying the snack cake lines out of bankruptcy.
More than 500 people lost their jobs when Hostess closed the Emporia plant last November following a strike by union bakers.
The new owners, doing business as Hostess Brands LLC, decided to reopen it as their flagship bakery. It’s reopening this summer with an expected 250 employees to start.
The Twinkies Festival at Flinthills Mall will feature such activities as a Twinkie-eating challenge and a Twinkie costume competition.
