The sugar-filled history and legacy of Necco, the beloved local candy company

Darlene Lacey with a 1970s roll of Necco Wafers.jpg — The complete history of Necco and its family of brands is captured in Darlene Lacey’s Necco-An Epic Candy Tale. Necco-The Archive Collection is the companion museum catalog of over 800 packages, promotions, photos, and ephemera.

July 29, 2022

Updated August 07, 2023

This week on Under the Radar:

New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, was the oldest continuously running candy company in the country up until its closure in 2018. The company, which was based in Revere, Massachusetts, produced Clark Bars, Mary Janes, Candy Buttons, Sky Bars, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sweethearts, and — most notably — Necco Wafers.

The New England Confectionery Company shaped the candy industry in our region and beyond, and its closure shocked sweettooths across the country. But the historic Necco candies are living on, produced by the Ohio-based Spangler Candy Company. We’re talking all things candy, confections and the future of our region’s sweets industry.

GUEST:

Darlene Lacey, an author and curator of The Candy Wrapper Museum. Her most recent books are “Necco: An Epic Candy Tale” and “Necco: The Archive Collection.”