In late August, Interstate Bakeries, makers of Wonder Bread, Millbrook Dodger Dog hot dog buns, and Hostess cakes, announced its exit from the Southern California bread market. The Los Angeles Times reported the sad demise of the historic icon and brand Wonder Bread. The announcement included its bakery outlet stores, which sell at substantial discount compared to those in stores of the Southern California supermarket trust, Ralph's, Von's, and Albertson's.

The announcement did not mention the company's specialty restaurant and hotel bread products.

Apparently the right hand and left hand in the company don't have their stories straight.

According to company employees speaking anonymously, some outlet stores will remain open, and others will relocate. The outlet in Burbank on San Fernando Road will relocate to another location on San Fernando Road. No one should assume that any particular outlet store has or will close without checking at the location.

They also say Wonder Bread and other products will continue to be available. Interstate will truck them in from a new Interstate bakery in Henderson, Nevada that opened in 2003. Exactly what products will continue is not known. That year Interstate closed a bakery in Bosie, Idaho, but continued to supply the market by truck from Salt Lake City and Ogden. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-2757403/IBC-Announces-Bakery-Closing.html

The "exit" is for purposes of negotiating with the unions. The company will close its Southern California union plants and terminate its union agreements while continuing to sell with product from Nevada. After a year or two, the company will decide that trucking is too expensive, build new bakeries in Southern California, and say prior union agreements from its closed bakeries no longer apply.