Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, many people are completing their last-minute shopping. However, there is one item that will not be present in people’s “valentines” this year-candy sweet hearts.
Last year the company that produced the original candy hearts, New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), went bankrupt. NECCO was the country’s oldest continuously operating candy company, dating back to the 1800’s.
Although the iconic candy hearts will not be sold this Valentine’s Day, NECCO was bought out by Round Hill Inc., which then sold the NECCO wafer brand and sweethearts to the competitor, Spangler.
Spangler plans on putting candy hearts back on the shelves for next Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, they missed this holiday because they just bought the company in September.
Many Syracuse residents were devastated while shopping for Valentine’s Day this year. Those sweet little chalky candy hearts have been a big part of people’s Valentine’s Days for years.
Syracuse resident Megan Vassar is very upset regarding the absence of candy hearts this season. She says, “they are her favorite candy and she waits all year for them to come back in stock.”
In respect to Vassar’s favorite candy, she will not settle for the store-bought brand candy hearts. She plans on only buying chocolate for her Valentine this year.
Similar to Vassar, Syracuse resident Lissa Arbon became emotional about the “devastating” news.
“Every year, every year, I would get at least two boxes. I loved them, we all did,” Arbon says.
This conversation brought back childhood memories for Arbon. Candy hearts hold a special place in her heart on Valentine’s Day.
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This is what you will be seeing on the shelves for Valentine's Day this year- Knock-off candy hearts.
© 2019 Colby Yablon
