Thomasville-based Flowers Foods will be the heir to the Twinkie throne. The bakery purchased Old HB, Inc. (Hostess Brands) for $355 million. Included in that purchase are Twinkies and 20 Hostess Bakeries, and also the following five bread brands: Wonder, Merita, Home Pride, Butternut, and Nature’s Pride.

The addition of the former Hostess brands means Flowers now covers nearly 80 percent of the US population, up from 38 percent prior to the purchase.  The purchase also make Flowers the second largest baker in the nation behind only Mexican giant Grupo Bimbo, who owns the Sara Lee brand.

“These assets fit very well with our strategy to grow our fresh baked foods through market expansion and acquisitions,” said Allen L. Shiver, president and chief executive officer. “Consumers across much of the country can expect to see these well-known and loved bread brands returning to store shelves over time.”

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