Hostess' 2017 innovation included Hostess Bakery Petites.

Hostess in ‘race for space’

William D. Toler, president and chief executive officer of Hostess, described the Kansas City-based company’s theme for 2017 as a “Race for Space.”

The company’s innovation in 2017 included cinnamon crunch Donettes, white fudge Ding Dongs, chocolate peanut butter Twinkies and the debut of Hostess Bakery Petites, a product line the company believes has the potential to elevate the entire sweet goods category.