Necco Wafers facts for kids
Regular Necco Wafers
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| Type | Candy |
|---|---|
| Owner | Necco (1847–2018) Spangler Candy Company (2018–present) |
| Country | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Introduced | 1847, 2020 (reintroduction) |
| Discontinued | 2018–2020 |
| Website | https://www.spanglercandy.com/our-brands/necco-wafers |
Necco Wafers are a classic candy made of sugar. They come in rolls of thin, round disks, each with a different flavor. This candy first appeared in 1847. It became the main product of the New England Confectionery Company (Necco), located near Boston, Massachusetts.
Necco Wafers stopped being made in July 2018 when the Necco company faced financial problems. However, they came back in May 2020. The Spangler Candy Company bought the brand and its candy-making machines, bringing these popular wafers back to stores.
Each roll of Necco Wafers has eight different flavors. These include lemon (yellow), lime (green), orange (orange), clove (purple), cinnamon (white), wintergreen (pink), licorice (black), and chocolate (brown). The main ingredients are sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, gums, colors, and flavors.
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The Sweet History of Necco Wafers
Necco Wafers have a long history, starting in 1847. An English immigrant named Oliver Chase invented a special machine. This machine could cut out the small, round wafers.
During the American Civil War, these candies were known as "hub wafers." Soldiers fighting for the Union often carried them. In 1901, Chase and Company joined with two other candy makers. Together, they formed the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco. By 1912, the wafers were officially called "Necco Wafers." This name has stuck ever since.
Necco Wafers During World War II
During World War II, the United States government asked Necco to make wafers for soldiers. These candies were sent to troops serving overseas. Because of this, Necco Wafer sales reached their highest point. Many soldiers enjoyed the wafers so much that they kept buying them after the war.
Changes in Ownership and Production
The Necco company was bought by different owners several times. The last time was in 2018. That year, the future of Necco Wafers became uncertain. The Necco company had to close down due to financial difficulties.
In May 2018, a company called Round Hill Investments bought Necco. They paid $17.3 million. But then, on July 24, 2018, Round Hill suddenly stopped all operations at Necco. They said there were "cleanliness issues" they didn't know about before.
Round Hill then sold off different Necco candy lines. Necco Wafers, along with Sweethearts and Canada Mints, were sold to the Spangler Candy Company. Spangler is located in Bryan, Ohio. In September 2018, Spangler announced plans to bring Necco Wafers back. They aimed for November 2019. Finally, in May 2020, Spangler confirmed that Necco Wafers were being made again. Production started at a factory in Mexico, and the candies were ready for sale.
How Necco Wafer Flavors Have Changed
In 2009, Necco decided to change the recipe for its wafers. They stopped using artificial colors and flavors. They also added glycerine to make the candy softer. The lime flavor was removed because it was hard to make a natural green color. This meant rolls had only seven flavors.
Necco's marketing vice president, Jackie Hague, said these changes would attract young mothers. These mothers were often worried about what their children ate. However, many long-time customers did not like the new recipe. The company received "some complaints" about the changes.
Because of these complaints, Necco switched back to the original recipe in the summer of 2011.
Recent Flavor Updates
In 2020, Spangler posted a message on their website about a small change. Seven of the eight flavors stayed the same. However, the chocolate wafer got a slight update. Spangler stated that "True Necco Wafers fans may notice a richer cocoa flavor." This was due to a small improvement in how they cooked the chocolate wafers.
Other Kinds of Necco Wafers
Besides the classic assorted rolls, Necco has made other types of wafers.
- Tropical Necco Wafers came out in 2012. They offered new fruity flavors. These included mango, passion fruit, coconut, banana, lime, and strawberry.
- Chocolate Necco Wafers are rolls filled only with the chocolate-flavored wafers.
- Necco Sour Wafers come in a roll with six tart flavors. These are Watermelon, Wildberry Grape, Sour Apple, Lemon, Extreme Tangerine, and Blue Raspberry. As of June 2018, these were not on Necco's website. But you could still find them in some stores.
- Candy cane flavored rolls are rare. They were sold during the holiday season.
Gallery
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An advertisement from 1916, showing "Nine Flavors, Separate or Assorted."
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A standard roll of assorted flavor Necco Wafers.
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The water tower at the former Necco factory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was painted in 1996 to look like a roll of Necco Wafers.
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The Necco Wafer Memorial Sculpture, made in 1998. This bronze sculpture is located in University Park at MIT near the old Necco factory.
See also
