NECCO WAFER PANIC BUYING

Last month the 170-year-old New England Confectionery Co. announced that it might shut down its Revere, Massachusetts, plant. Among the candy made by the Revere company: Mary Janes, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Clark Bars, and Neccos. Since the announcement, people have been panic-buying the chalky, wafer-like Neccos. Jon Prince, the president of CandyFavorites.com, has received hundreds of frantic calls from buyers who wanted to purchase his entire inventory of Necco Wafers. “They’re shocked and scared,” he told the Journal. “They’re not happy about it.” CandyStore.com, a Los Angeles-based bulk-candy retailer, reported that people began “panic-buying” the wafers on March 12, the day the company announced the shutdown. Necco sales from CandyStore.com shot up 63 percent – “A clear signal of panic-buying,” said the website.
* Or a clear signal of shrewd marketing.
* Necco? Yucko.
* I thought Necco wafers were just repackaged Tums?
* And yet Werther’s Original candies are allowed to walk free.
* There’s got to be some blackboard chalk company willing to pick up the recipe.
* I’d also hate to see Mary Janes go – they’re great for removing a loose filling.
PHONE TOPIC: Is there some old, classic candy you still go out of your way to buy?