Local union President Woods that some workers might be able to get jobs at the Indiana facility, which he says the company is not planning to close, but it's unclear how many positions are available. The union represents about 175 people there.



Workers on break outside the Schiller Park factory Wednesday afternoon said the company summoned them to meetings Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning to inform them of the closing.



Those approached by a reporter said they were instructed by the company not to speak to the press and said they were afraid they could lose their jobs before the closure date if they were quoted by name. They said they have been working 12-hour days in two shifts.



Twinkies and other Hostess treats were off store shelves for eight months before the company was revived.



During that hiatus, competitors introduced knock-offs that appear to be hurting Twinkie sales.



"Many competitors took over the shelves and are tenaciously defending their business and thus we must be highly efficient and technologically advanced to compete," Hostess Brands CEO Bill Toler said in a statement to the Tribune. "As a result, we have invested in more efficient production capabilities and need to streamline our manufacturing infrastructure and protect our ability to compete."



Twinkies competitors include Golden Sponge Cake, sold at Jewel-Osco; Little Debbie Cloud Cakes, Wal-Mart's Golden Creme Cakes and Nice! sponge cakes at Walgreens. Compared with the Twinkie's per-cake price of about 68 cents, they're 5 to 50 percent cheaper.



Another obstacle to Twinkie's re-birth is consumers' growing appetite for healthier food with more natural ingredients.