Twinkies, Wonder Bread carry on in Canada post Hostess filing

Twinkie and Wonder Bread lovers in the U.S. can still head north of the border to stock up on the baked goods even with the bankruptcy of Hostess Brands Inc.

Saputo Inc., Canada’s largest dairy processor, has the trademark and brand rights to Hostess CupCakes and Hostess Twinkies in the country and manufactures the products themselves, said Sandy Vassiadis, a spokeswoman for the company.

“It’s totally separate,” she said, in an interview from Saputo’s headquarters near Montreal. “We own the rights in Canada so what’s happening in the U.S. doesn’t affect us.”

The same holds true for Wonder Bread, which in Canada is owned, manufactured and distributed by Toronto-based George Weston Ltd., Canada’s largest food manufacturer and majority owner of the Loblaw Cos. grocery chain.

“We own the brand in Canada so everything that’s happening south of the border has no effect in Canada,” said Geoff Wilson, the senior vice president of investor relations.

A strike forced Irving, Texas-based Hostess to shutter operations and dismiss more than 18,000 employees last week after changing diets in the U.S. led to years of sales decline.

PepsiCo Inc. has its own Hostess brand in Canada, a line of potato ships sold at discount grocers. The potato chips aren’t affected by the U.S. filing and will continue to be sold in Canada, said Sheri Morgan, a spokeswoman for PepsiCo by phone from Toronto.