Whether you love them or hate them, Necco Wafers remain one of the most iconic candies of all time. Now, after the company discontinued them in 2018, this classic candy will finally return to store shelves in summer 2020!
Necco Wafers: A Piece Of History
Before their discontinuation in 2018, Necco Wafers were one of the oldest candies in the country, with production starting all the way back in 1847! Back then, the New England Confectionary Company made the candy, the company’s initials gave the wafers their name! Now owned by the Spangler Candy Company, these candies haven’t changed through the years, still wrapped in plastic and coming in all the original flavors: lemon, lime, orange, clove, cinnamon, wintergreen, licorice, and chocolate.
“We’ve always admired the brand and how it’s woven in with the fabric of our culture,” said Kirk Vashaw, the chairman, and CEO of Spangler Candy. “It’s neat to be eating a candy that was carried by Civil War soldiers, and taken on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, and issued to GIs in World War II as a morale booster. It’s a piece of our history.”
A Divisive Candy
As stated, while some love Necco Wafers, plenty dislike them as well. They view them as old fashioned and tasteless. So, its really no surprise that Spanger discontinued the candy in 2018. However, due to an increase in comfort food sales due to the coronavirus, the company has decided to bring back Necco Wafers!
“Just when comfort food is experiencing a resurgence, Necco Wafers is back with that very kind of familiar, comfortable feeling we all seem to be craving,” Vashaw wrote in a recent press release. “We are delighted to bring Necco Wafers back into production and to share in their sweet return with fans old and new.”
Many of the larger stores like Walmart and Target already have Necco Wafers back. Meanwhile, other chains, like Walgreens and CVS, will need to late a little bit longer. But by the end of summer 2020, the candy will be back on store shelves! Now, Wafer fans are simply wondering if they will taste the same…
Just As Yummy
Vashaw quickly confirmed to fans around the world that Spanger would not change the Necco Wafer recipe in any way, shape, or form. “We kept the wax wrap around the roll exactly the same,” he said, “and used the same supplier and everything.”
Well, almost everything will remain the same. Uber Necco Wafer detectives might notice something a tad different. “Connoisseurs may notice a slightly richer taste to the cocoa. It’s the same flavor, but we use a slightly different process. To our palate, it brings out the flavor a bit differently,” Vashaw stated.
In Vashaw and Spangler’s eyes, there’s no better time to bring back a beloved candy like Necco Wafers. “Candy is a simple joy in life, and it’s a simple reward. People want the same thing they remember as a kid,” he said. “That’s the beauty of candy — nostalgia.”
Sources: MSN, Today Show.