Photo courtesy Associated Press.-
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IRVING, Texas -
Hostess Brands says it is going out of business, closing plants that make Twinkies and Wonder Bread and laying off all of its 18,500 workers.
The layoffs include several hundred jobs in Memphis and Knoxville.
Hostess had warned employees that it would file a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to unwind its business and sell assets if plant operations didn't return to normal levels by Thursday evening.
Thousands of members on Hostess' second largest union went on strike after turning down a contract offer that included cuts to wages and benefits.
The company said the nationwide worker strike crippled its ability to make and deliver its products at several locations.
The privately held company filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade.
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.
