No Twinkies? No Problem: The Rising Power of Mexico’s “Grupo Bimbo”

Our newsroom, and pretty much the entire internet, has been abuzz the past few days with news of the possible demise of the humble Twinkie, that golden snack cake with the creamy filling. Hostess, the company that makes Twinkies (and many other baked goods like Wonder Bread) looked set to close down. Last minute negotiations between management and staff may yet save the company.

But it got us thinking: Are there other global snacks out there like Twinkies? Substitutes that we might turn to in our hour of need? It turns out that Mexican baking giant “Bimbo” has a much beloved snack cake of its own…called Gansito, Spanish for “little goose.”

We hear more Rachel Laudan, who authors a blog called A Historian’s Take on Food and Food Politics. She lives in Austin, Texas.