Necco Wafers

[RPM 26327]

 

No more Necco Wafers? New owner shutters Mass. factory

The world of the Necco Wafer has crumbled.

The Massachusetts plant that made the beloved, but often mocked, candy closed Tuesday, the Boston Globe reported. Round Hill Investments announced that it had sold the once-bankrupt Necco, purchased for $17.3 million in May, to another candy maker. 

Necco, short for the New England Confectionery Co., is believed to be the oldest continuously operating candy company in the U.S. It traces its roots back to 1847, but adopted the name at the turn of the 20th century.

Sweet-treat aficionados will recognize Round Hill Investments, owned by billionaire C. Dean Metropoulos and his sons, as the firm that bought Hostess Brands when the Twinkies manufacturer was bankrupt in 2013.

 

“Round Hill Investments was very excited to acquire Necco’s historic brands and to be part of their national resurgence,” read the statement sent to the Globe. "After careful engagement and consideration, however, the firm decided to sell the brands to another national confection manufacturer and today announced the closure of the operations in Revere, Massachusetts."

According to the Globe reports, the company, which operates Necco under the affiliate name Sweetheart Candy, didn't say who Necco’s new owner is or whether the iconic snacks would be produced again. 

By late Wednesday morning, Necco's website was down and the phone number, no longer valid.

News about the closure came so fast that the city where Necco is headquartered received no advance notice and only learned about it after receiving media inquiry. 

 

"We are disappointed that Round Hill could not follow through on the enthusiasm it expressed when it acquired Necco," Mayor Brian Arrigo said in an e-mail. "The city of Revere will make every effort to assist displaced workers with referrals to agencies that can help them."

Necco also made Sweethearts and Clark Bars, two less controversial snacks whose names showed no mercy to the local Boston accent.

 

[Buffsoldier 1895]

Good.  Necco wafer were the North Korea of candy.

[RPM 26327]

Never was a fan of Necco, but Sweethearts are a damned Valentine's staple.

[Deej 76858]

If you really need your fix, a box of sidewalk chalk should take care of it.

[phdhorn 6224]

I mean, they weren't that bad, certainly not in the Circus Peanuts Seventh Level of Hell.

[TexArcher 37989]

Circus peanuts are the Nickelback of candies.

[Trey3216 15350]

So Necro Wafer is dead... color me surprised 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21912]

I don’t think I ever ate one, but I did watch an episode of “How it’s Made” on the Science Channel that showed how they were made.

[jimmyjazz 46000]

Ate them all the time as a kid.  Didn't really LIKE them all that much, but candy.

I did respect their infinite half-life, though.

[Prepuce of Doom 21097]

Anyone else ever hear the urban legend that they could be used in place of quarters in the old "urinal style" toll booths, as long as they were gently deposited? 

I never tried it because it seemed so preposterous. 

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

I didn’t like the taste but I always got a kick out of whispering “the body of Christ” when I popped one in my mouth. 

[Zepol87 9188]

I didn’t like the taste but I always got a kick out of whispering “the body of Christ” when I popped one in my mouth. 

Did this as well.

[woohorn 1131]

[Underdog 28754]

12 hours ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

I didn’t like the taste but I always got a kick out of whispering “the body of Christ” when I popped one in my mouth. 

So the power of Christ compelled you? 

[bmbmd 1027]

Pissed me off when there were no chocolate ones.

[HornsOverIthaca 2335]

“Now his name is Matt Foley.  He’s been down in the basement eating necco wafers and drinking coffee for about six hours, so he should be ready.”

[Rusty Shackelford 414]

Was this candy just a Yankee thing, or a very old person thing?

I’ve honestly never seen these things before, much less eaten them.

[RPM 26327]

5 minutes ago, Rusty Shackelford said:

Was this candy just a Yankee thing, or a very old person thing?

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Rusty Shackelford said:

Was this candy just a Yankee thing, or a very old person thing?

I’ve honestly never seen these things before, much less eaten them.

What about Astro pops or Fun Dip?

what do they sell at Little League baseball games now? Screen protectors for cell phones and pics of Jerry Sandusky?

Edited July 28, 2018 by slorch

[ChiTownDoc 21154]

2 hours ago, slorch said:

What about Astro pops or Fun Dip?

what do they sell at Little League baseball games now? Screen protectors for cell phones and pics of Jerry Sandusky?

FunDip was the shit.  I hear it’s the gateway drug to blow...

[Rusty Shackelford 414]

What about Astro pops or Fun Dip?
what do they sell at Little League baseball games now? Screen protectors for cell phones and pics of Jerry Sandusky?

Yes I remember fun dip and Astro pops.

I have no idea what they serve at little league, where i live it depends on what side of town you’re on, but I’m guessing raspas are a popular choice

[Helobious 9464]

13 hours ago, Rusty Shackelford said:

Was this candy just a Yankee thing, or a very old person thing?

I’ve honestly never seen these things before, much less eaten them.

This. The first time I'd ever heard of Necco Wafers was when I read this thread title, and I'm in my mid-20's.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Helobious said:

This. The first time I'd ever heard of Necco Wafers was when I read this thread title, and I'm in my mid-20's.

They are old as fuck.

 

At Cracker Barrel, you can buy the rolls with just chocolate( the best ones) in them.

[Prepuce of Doom 21097]

27 minutes ago, slorch said:

At Cracker Barrel, you can buy the rolls with just chocolate( the best ones) in them.

Cracker Barrel probably markets them as "Negro Wafers." 

Edited July 28, 2018 by Prepuce of Doom

[Whitman 694]

Good site to remember our childhood by..

https://www.oldtimecandy.com/

There is a link at the bottom for discontinued ones.  My favorite growing up was a Powerhouse Bar.

[Nivek 16948]

They are old as fuck.
 
At Cracker Barrel, you can buy the rolls with just chocolate( the best ones) in them.

My parents love that place. They are in their late 60s.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

10 hours ago, ChiTownDoc said:

FunDip was the shit.  I hear it’s the gateway drug to blow...

No, that was pixie stix.  

[Stoogey 219]

On 7/25/2018 at 7:34 PM, Deej said:

If you really need your fix, a box of sidewalk chalk should take care of it.

No kidding. I dislike Necco for more than their shitty candy.

For years local confectioner Stark Candy Company made candy raisins. Nothing to do with raisins. A member of the soft jujube family with a honey, ginger, lilac / violet flavor. Maybe a little bit medicinal. Really delicious. Kind of a local thing like bubblers and brandy old fashioned sweets with olives.  

Necco bought Stark and discontinued candy raisins. After a couple of years of sweethearts and wafers, Necco closed the local factory. A lot of people were out of work. What? Did the Chinese start exporting conversational hearts and sidewalk chalk?

Only recently have real candy raisins made from the original patented recipe become available again. 

So. Hard luck, Necco. 

 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Never was a fan of Necco, but Sweethearts are a damned Valentine's staple.

I could destroy a bag of those hearts. Until those dumbass Yankees changed the recipes around 2014.