Twinkies Are Popping Up Like Daisies

Like clusters of daisies popping up unexpectedly after a refreshing rain, stacks of Twinkies began to appear in area supermarkets and Walmarts over the weekend, ahead of Monday's official reintroduction.

And there were Donettes and creme-filled CupCakes with the squiggle on top, too.

The Daily News spotted a pallet of the golden spongecake treats on sale Friday in the Chatsworth Ralphs store. And Walmart, the world's largest retailer, also had the cakes in 1,600 stores starting Friday. About 3,000 of its 4,000 U.S. stores had them by Sunday morning.

"People are very excited and happy. We have them and Ding Dongs in the variety pack. They are coming back as strong as ever," a Ralphs store manager told the Daily News.

Kansas City-based Hostess Brands declared bankruptcy late last year after reaching an impasse with its union. So, the company sold its brands to private equity firms.

By late next week Hostess Mini Muffins and fried Fruit Pies will be back in stock, Walmart spokeswoman Veronica Marshall told the Associated Press. Coffee Cakes, Ho Hos, Orange CupCakes, Suzy Qs and Zingers will be available by August. Sno-Balls will arrive in the fall.

"I've been hearing people say, 'Oh, my God, they're here,' " the Ralphs store manager told the Daily News. "And it's more adults than kids. That brand has been around for a while." The manager could not resist a Twinkie or two, either. "I got two packages. I'm almost out."