Hostess warns it might lay off 850 Indiana workers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Hostess Brands Inc. has notified the Indiana Department of Workforce Development it might close plants in 21 cities and lay off more than 850 employees working in bakeries, retail outlets or distributing Wonder bread, Twinkies and other goods.

The Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Business Journal reported Wednesday the Texas-based company says the job losses could occur within 60 days of the May 4 notice if it doesn't find a buyer or emerge from bankruptcy.

It has five locations in Indianapolis with 340 workers and three in Columbus with 237 workers. Others are in Anderson, Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Hobart, Jeffersonville, Kokomo, Lafayette, Madison, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Rushville, Scottsburg, South Bend, Terre Haute, Versailles and Merrillville.

Hostess' other brands include Nature's Pride and Dolly Madison.