Word that the country’s oldest continuously operating candy company might shut down has people suddenly hoarding Necco Wafers, despite the candy’s unpopularity among, well, almost everyone.
The chalky candy’s flavors (chocolate, licorice, wintergreen) have been described as “tropical drywall” and “plaster surprise,” according to the Wall Street Journal. But last month’s announcement that the 170-year-old New England Confectionery Co. might shut down its Revere, Mass., plant — and lay off the majority of its employees — seemed to strike a nostalgic chord with consumers, leading to a surge in wafer sales.
Candy stores and consumers are trying to get their hands on whichever Necco products they can get, the Journal reported, including Mary Janes, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Clark Bars and Sweethearts, the popular heart-shaped Valentine’s Day candies. What they’re chasing after most, however, are the wafers. They are both storied and divisive, known for their unusually long shelf life and a recipe that’s been unchanged since the days when the indestructible candies fueled Union soldiers during the Civil War.
It's old people candy. My kid and her friends don't even know the brand.
With the possible exception of the Clark bar, everything else in that picture looks like what was left in our bags about a week after Halloween. The rejects. The stuff no one would eat. The stuff the 100-year-old lady down the street handed out, probably the stale leftovers from last year. And this was back when I was a kid, lo those many years ago.
The candy hearts were a valentine's thing, so that would be another exception.
The only thing they really make that I like are the conversation hearts and the wafers ( the same thing in 2 different shapes ). Brach's has it's own version of conversation hearts that will be fine except the yellow isn't banana flavored. Not to big a deal though. /shrug, I'm not surprised. As others have said, make products your customers will buy or go out of business. Guess it's time for them to sink or find some way to afford a change of operations to make products that have more appeal to their customers.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 04-10-2018).]
Keep the Necco Wafers in the truck as get by energy when doing work and do not want to stop to go get something. They last forever with no sign of getting better or worse.
I recall having eaten all but the Slap Stix, Candy Buttons and the Hearts, as a kid in the 50's. The school candy store sold all of them except Slap Stix. Maybe because the Sugar Daddy was the popular caramel candy down here.
Mary Janes were sold in packs of 2 for a penny and all the others could be had for a nickle. Of course, that was really a lot, considering that my school lunch cost $0.20 a day. The Necco Wafers were a favorite of mine because they didn't require any noticeable movement to enjoy them during class time. Just sneak one into your cheek when teacher wasn't looking and let it slowly dissolve.
My wife, being from Massachusetts, loved the Sky Bars with their variety of fillings in the different sections. Her sister from main would often send a couple of boxes down to her. And I liked 'em, too.
My wife, being from Massachusetts, loved the Sky Bars with their variety of fillings in the different sections. Her sister from main would often send a couple of boxes down to her. And I liked 'em, too.
So, the Sky Bar was kind of like the 7up bar? I was never big on candy, but I do remember the Necco Wafers.
Remember when Twinkies were going away forever, and they came back? Same thing is going to happen here. Someone will buy the rights (probably Nestle) and continue to make the more popular items, if not the whole range.
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