Moses Lake Hostess could see 2 layoffs

MOSES LAKE - Local Hostess Brands employees could be laid off as the company moves through the bankruptcy process.

In early May, Hostess Brands sent notices to all of its 18,500 employees around the country, alerting them that a "sale or wind down" of the company is possible, according to a statement released this week. If such an event occurs, Hostess Brands employees could potentially be laid off, a company spokesperson said Thursday.

"Our goal is still to emerge from bankruptcy as a growing company with a strong future," she said. "We are simply fulfilling our requirements by sending these notices."

In Washington, 250 Hostess employees could lose their jobs, including two positions in Moses Lake, according to information released by the state's Employment Security Department (ESD) this week.

In Moses Lake, the Franz Bakery Outlet Store, 1135 South Pioneer Way, is operated by Franz Family Bakeries, which is a partner of Hostess Brands, according to the company website.

A Franz company spokesperson did not return calls for comment Thursday as to how the local outlet store might be affected in the event of layoffs.

Along with Moses Lake, Hostess Brands has employees in Seattle, Kent, Everett, Bellingham, Bremerton, Tumwater, Longview, Yakima and Spokane, according to the ESD.

Hostess Brands, based in Irving, Tex., filed under Chapter 11 for bankruptcy in January and is currently involved in contract renegotiations with the Teamsters and bakery workers unions, according to Bloomberg News.