Hostess Brands Inc. will send its first group of brands, including Wonder Bread, to the auction block this week as part of its bankruptcy liquidation, Dow Jones Newswires reported on Friday. Flowers Foods Inc., which makes Tastykakes snacks and Nature's Own bread, is set to lead off the bidding for the Hostess assets. The Thomasville, Ga.-based company is offering up to $360 million for five Hostess bread brands, including Wonder Bread and Nature's Pride, as well as 20 plants and 38 depots. In a separate bid, Flowers Foods has offered $30 million for Hostess's Beefsteak rye bread brand.
