Defunct 1995 Founded 1849 | Industry Food (Bakery) Key people Robert Boyd Ward Ceased operations 1995 | |
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Products Brands such as Wonder Bread, Hostess | ||
The Continental Baking Company was one of the first bakeries to introduce fortified bread. It was the maker of the Twinkie and Wonder bread. Through a series of acquisitions and mergers it became part of Interstate Bakeries Corporation.
History
It was founded in New York City by Robert Boyd Ward in 1849 as the Ward Baking Company. In 1921 William Ward, the grandson of Robert, took over the company. He renamed it the Continental Baking Company in 1925. Continental Baking acquired the Wagner Baking Company in Detroit, Michigan, and in 1925 bought Taggart Baking Company, the maker of Wonder bread, to become the largest commercial bakery in the United States. Twinkies were invented in 1930 in Schiller Park, Illinois, by James Alexander Dewar. In 1964 they expanded operations by acquiring bread manufacturer Tip Top in Mexico City.
Continental was based in New York from 1923 to 1984. It also had its executive offices in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was purchased by ITT in 1968, and Ralston Purina in 1984. It was purchased by Interstate Bakeries in 1995; the combined company was rebranded Hostess Brands in 2009.
On November 16, 2012, Hostess Brands announced that it would be closing down.