# Necco may soon shut down **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431 "2018-04-14T22:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/81 "2018-09-26T20:37:11Z")
[Oh No! America’s Worst Candy Has Been Re-continued!](http://www.cracked.com/article_25939_americaE28099s-worst-candy-saved-by-its-second-worst-candy.html) By the same people who make circus peanuts, of course! (where’s the “yuck” emoji?) > [@](#): > > Since the closing of the New England Confectionery Co. and its factory, rumors had been flying of a mysterious buyer who had picked up of the brand licenses to Necco Wafers and Candy Hearts, giving hope to waferheads that the Ghost of Candy Past could be resurrected. This week, it was announced that their prayers had been answered, as Necco Wafers and Candy Hearts have been acquired by Spangler Candy Co., the manufacturer of candy canes, Dum Dum lollipops, and Circus Peanuts, the original orange national disgrace. And it shows how far the Necco name has fallen that the one company willing to buy it clearly only did so to make a product that reminds people of elephant abuse look good by comparison. > [@](#): > > According to CEO Kirk Vashaw, they’re aiming for a “Sweethearts relaunch for the 2020 Valentine season, and hope to reintroduce Necco Wafers to the marketplace in 2019.” So it’ll still be a while before Spangler assembles the Avengers of disappointing candies. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/82 "2018-09-26T22:42:42Z")
I’ve never seen a better description of circus peanuts (but I’m still not going to capitalize it). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/83 "2018-09-27T02:13:34Z")
I was hoping Musk put a roll of Necco wafers in the glove compartment of the Tesla sent into space. If any aliens found them they’d know we mean business. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/84 "2018-09-27T15:54:03Z")
All hail Spangler, the savior of fine confections, for keeping my beloved Neccos and Circus Peanuts in production. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/85 "2018-09-27T16:01:21Z")
The thing I like most about Necco candies is that they are super old, and old fashioned. I’ve often pondered as to why the wafer flavors are what they are, and I think what’s notable is there isn’t any artificial blue raspberry type flavors. My guess is that these flavors are what they had to work with 150 years ago, and goddammit they stuck with them. I would totally buy a roll of clove wafers. I will mourn the loss of Clark bars, but mourn the loss of the great Zagnut bar even more. Goddamn I love those things, and now that I’m back East, I would occasionally find one that wasn’t stale. Finally, Mary Janes aren’t a great loss, especially since they stopped putting a nice squirt of peanut butter in them, but losing Squirrels, and Squirrel Nut Zippers (there used to be two kinds, but I haven’t see the lighter kind, with the red writing on the wrapper, for some time) is a major blow. My grandfather used to eat these candies when he was a kid, now they will be lost to us. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/86 "2018-09-27T17:13:13Z")
Why the hate for Circus Peanuts? They are awesome, especially when stale. Buncha food haters around here! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/87 "2018-09-27T17:36:59Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why the hate for Circus Peanuts? They are awesome, especially when stale. Buncha food haters around here! There shouldn’t be hate. They were the inspiration for Styrofoam. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/88 "2018-09-27T17:46:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There shouldn’t be hate. They were the inspiration for Styrofoam. [Wikipedia says it’s the other way 'round, actually](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_peanut): > [@](#): > > The first circus peanuts are long rumored to have originated in Omaha, Nebraska as the brainchild of chemical engineer Noel Knapp. After fashioning a foam, peanut-shaped insulation for use in preventing drafts in his livestock barn, Knapp was said to have been so pleased with the texture and shape of the insulation that he was inspired to recreate it as a confection in his kitchen using edible ingredients. The treat delighted his family and friends, and he was encouraged to distribute small bags of the candy “peanuts” each year when the circus passed through town. I can find these exact same words on other websites by googling “circus peanuts Noel Knapp”, but I can find no citation or origin for them. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/89 "2018-09-27T20:09:13Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why the hate for Circus Peanuts? They are awesome, especially when stale. Buncha food haters around here! You’ve certainly got a funny definition of “food”. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/90 "2018-09-27T21:59:38Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > They also manufactured the disgustingly vaguely peanut flavored wood paste that is [Mary Jane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jane_(candy)) candy. Dear Og, did they employ any humans with taste buds??? Unlike the atrocious circus peanuts and completely bland Necco wafers, I genuinely liked those. Bit O’ Honey is better, though. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/91 "2018-09-27T23:39:50Z")
> [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](#): > > I would totally buy a roll of clove wafers. Me too! I’ve wondered about trying clove sticks or drops, like you sometimes find at “olde tyme” candy counters, but I’ve always been afraid they would be disappointing. I’m pretty sure one of the flavors in those rock/ribbon candy mixes you see at Christmas is supposed to be clove, and I’ve never been impressed with that. (Spearmint, on the other hand…yum. Why is it so rare compared to peppermint?) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431/92 "2018-09-27T23:39:53Z")
In honor of this thread, I just bought a roll of Necco wafers at the local Dollar General. They were on clearance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-may-soon-shut-down/812431.md?page=4)