TWINKIE MAKER: A closer look

A few facts about Interstate Bakeries Inc.:
HEADQUARTERS: Kansas City, Mo.Employs: 34,000.Operates: 58 bakeries throughout the United States. Interstate delivers baked goods to more than 200,000 food outlets.History: The company was established in 1930 and acquired Schulze Baking in 1937, beginning a long history of mergers and acquisitions. In 1995, Interstate bought what was then the nation's largest wholesale baker, Continental Baking Co., the maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread.Twinkies were first created in 1930 by Chicago area bakery manager Jimmy Dewar, who decided to inject shortcakes with a banana creme filling and sell them two for a nickel. The vanilla-creme filling came about because of a banana shortage during World War II.Brand names: Beefsteak, Braun's, Bread du Jour, Buttermaid, Butternut, Colombo, Cotton's Holsum, DiCarlo, Dolly Madison, Drake's, Eddy's, Emperor Norton, Grandma Emilie's, Holsum, Home Pride, Hostess, J.J. Nissen, Marie Callender's, Merita, Millbrook Farms, Mrs. Cubbison's, Prisian, Roman Meal, Sunbeam, Sun-Maid, Sweetheart, Toscano, Wonder.