Twinkies are currently being produced in Canada by Saputo, Inc., Canada’s largest dairy processor, who owns the trademark and brand rights to both Hostess CupCakes and Twinkies. Toronto-based George Weston Ltd, Canada’s largest food manufacturer, manufactures and distributes Hostess Wonder Bread. Saputo manufactures their two Hostess products for export to U.S. supermarket shelves. The U.S. has exported an icon and can now purchase back pieces for a short while.
Demand for Twinkies has accelerated by 42 percent nationwide as American consumers are beginning to digest that their favorite sponge cake is now under the ruthless hand of scarcity. It is the scarcity—or threat of—that provokes hoarding. In the long run, Prohibition fueled an increase in alcohol consumption. The Yale Club in New York City, a private men’s association, hoarded enough liquor to keep each of its members floating for fourteen years. By 1926—six years into the Volstead Act—America was the leading importer of cocktail shakers. In 2012, America is largest importer of Hostess Twinkies.
Another everyday supermarket product being hoarded is the incandescent light bulb, which will completely cease being manufactured and sold in the United States as of 2014, as stipulated in the energy bill signed by former President George Bush, Jr. The new “energy efficient bulbs” cost six times more than incandescent bulbs, but last for five years as opposed to an average five months for incandescent. Hoarding began on a national scale in 2007. Commercial institutions for the most part have already complied with the energy bill statute. The best bet for remaining incandescent bulb stocks are Walmart, Target and dollar discount stores.
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