OH, NO - NECCO Wafer may be no more

[packman]

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CandyStore.com is calling it "the Great NECCO Wafer Panic," and that's no exaggeration. Terrified by reports that the New England Confectionery Co. may soon be out of business, fans of the candy company's sugar wafers are stocking up, with one woman offering to exchange her 2003 Honda Accord for CandyStore.com's hefty stash.

The offer was refused, so she bought 48 rolls instead, reports the Boston Globe. Jon Prince of CandyFavorites.com tells NPR that another fan tried to buy his entire stock of NECCO Wafers and cried after learning sales were being limited.

"They said they couldn't imagine a world without their NECCO wafers," says Prince.

Of course, not everyone loves the wafers, which come in flavors like chocolate, clove, and licorice.

"I mean, it is really like chewing on chalk," one man tells NPR. More likely to be missed are NECCO's conversation hearts, always a hit around Valentine's Day.

A few weeks after this year's holiday, NECCO said it would be forced to close—meaning 395 lost jobs at its factory in Revere, Mass.—unless it found a buyer by May.

NECCO sales on CandyStore.com have jumped 82% in the aftermath, while wafer sales have spiked 150%. The turnaround might not be enough to save NECCO, but "who knows, NECCO wafers might make a comeback the way Twinkies did," Revere's mayor tells the Wall Street Journal.

Of course, they tasted horrible - but it was part of our youth. Tell you one thing, they were great for BB gun targets - exploding into tiny bits.

[Angry Dragon]

1. sad state of affairs

[PoliticAverse]

2. Some prior DU Necco discussion....

Here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=10467037

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Around age 13, my friends and I used Necco Wafers as poker chips

My mother put an end to the practice, however, when she found my younger brother chowing down on repulsive, blackened discs.

[The Genealogist]

4. My dads favorite candy

He would buy bags of rolls of necco wafers and eat them all day. When I was in Massachusetts about 18 years ago I even took a photo of the factory for him. I haven't had any for years but I'll miss eating the pepsin and chocolate ones together.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Forget about bitcoin... stock up on wafers!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Think of the number of gingerbread houses that won't have roof tiles!

[FSogol]

8. +1, LOL n/t

[3catwoman3]

16. I once read that you could shingle...

...your house with Pop Tarts -

[FSogol]

7. Next they'll do away with penny candy.

[hlthe2b]

9. the history is cool, but damn, I can still remember the one time decades ago I tried one...

they are so chalky that tums antacids taste more like candy in comparison.

Still, for something that has been around since the civil war, wow.

The Valentines hearts possibly disappearing upset me more though. Pure sugar, but they were always a staple if only for decoration.

[montanacowboy]

10. When I was a kid

going to the Saturday afternoon movies This was always my choice to buy at the candy counter

I can still taste the chocolate ones

[ret5hd]

11. See, thats what were saying:

If the taste is in your mouth this long, there’s something wrong!

[TheSmarterDog]

12. The least candy-like "candy" in existence.

Like black licorice.

[LeftInTX]

13. The dreaded Halloween treat

Also made communion wafers.

Priest: "Put this in your mouth"
Parishioner: "I know"

[aka-chmeee]

14. In a just world,

Necco Wafers would flourish and PEZ would be a vaguely remembered bad dream.

[Stuart G]

15. I liked them and still do.............AND THEY DON'T TASTE TERRIBLE !!!!!