For the similar British confectionery, see Love Hearts.
Sweethearts (also known as conversation hearts) are small heart-shaped sugar candies sold around Valentine's Day. Each heart is printed with a message such as "Be Mine", "Kiss Me", "Call Me", "Let's Get Busy", or "Miss You". Sweethearts were made by the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, before being purchased by the Spangler Candy Company in 2018. They were also previously made by the Stark Candy Company. Necco manufactured nearly 8 billion Sweethearts per year.[1] Similar products are available from Brach's and other companies.[2] A similar type of candy is sold in the UK under the name Love Hearts; while similar in formulation to Sweethearts, Love Hearts are round, with the heart design and message embossed on their surface.
Oliver R. Chase invented a machine in 1847 to cut lozenges from wafer candy, similar to Necco Wafers, and started a candy factory.[3]
Daniel Chase, Oliver's brother, began printing sayings on the candy in 1866. He designed a machine that was able to press on the candy similar to a stamp. The candy was often used for weddings since the candies had witty saying such as: "Married in pink, he will take a drink", "Married in White, you have chosen right", and "Married in Satin, Love will not be lasting".[4]
The heart-shaped conversation candies to be called Sweethearts got their start in 1901. Other styles were formerly produced such as lozenges, postcards, horseshoes, watches, and baseballs. Line extensions carrying the Sweethearts brand include chocolates and sugar-free hearts.[4]
A Sweetheart with the phrase "LOL", a relatively new phrase
In the 1990s, Necco vice-president Walter Marshall wanted to update some of the sayings and retire others. The romantic expressions continue to be revised for young Americans. Necco received hundreds of suggestions a year on new sayings.[4]
Necco produced the hearts year-round, but mixing of colors and packaging were ramped up beginning in September to meet the demand for the product at Valentine's Day.[1] Approximately 100,000 pounds (45,000 kg) of hearts were made per day, which sells out in about six weeks.[4][5] The company produces 8 billion hearts per year.[1]
Flavor changeedit
In 2010, the classic pastel candy formula was abandoned. Sweethearts were made softer with vivid colors and new flavors. These new flavors included sour apple and blue raspberry.[6] The changes to the flavors and messages were unpopular with some fans.[7][8]
Bankruptcy and returnedit
In 2018, Necco declared bankruptcy. The original plant closed[9] and their candy brands were sold off. The rights to Sweethearts were acquired by Spangler Candy Company.[10] With the purchase of the brand by Spangler, Sweethearts were unavailable for Valentine's Day 2019 as Spangler set up production of the confections in a new plant.[11] Sweethearts returned in 2020 with the original flavors from before Necco's 2010 change, but due to equipment problems, the familiar sayings were largely either incomplete or missing entirely.[12]
^ abcAbraham, Lisa. "Candy hearts celebrating 150 years of sweetness". The Columbus Dispatch.
^EGKOLFOPOULOU, MISYRLENA; Benveniste, Alexis; Bloomberg News (2019-02-13). "With Candy-Heart Maker Necco Out of Business, Other Confectioners Vie for Valentine's Day Love". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
^ abcdNew England Confectionery Comp (2010): Sweethearts
^Robins, Clair (2019-01-18). "Where are the SweetHearts?!". CandyStore.com. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
^Wight, Patty (February 13, 2010). "A-Twitter Over Updated Sweethearts Candy". NPR. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
^Gray, Joe (January 26, 2010). . The Stew. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010.
^Floyd, Jacquielynn (February 12, 2010). . The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011.
^Mettler, Lyn (2019-01-22). "This classic Valentine's Day candy may be missing from store shelves this year". The Today Show. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
^Ewers, Josh (September 21, 2018). "Spangler Candy buys Sweethearts, NECCO, Canada Mints and New Era campus". The Bryan Times. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
^Lucas, Amelia (January 23, 2019). "America's favorite Valentine's Day candy is unavailable this year". CNBC.
^"Valentine's Sweethearts Candies Return This Year With Some New Changes". Time. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
External linksedit
NECCO's website
April 15, 2024
sweethearts, candy, similar, british, confectionery, love, hearts, sweethearts, also, known, conversation, hearts, small, heart, shaped, sugar, candies, sold, around, valentine, each, heart, printed, with, message, such, mine, kiss, call, busy, miss, sweethear. For the similar British confectionery see Love Hearts Sweethearts also known as conversation hearts are small heart shaped sugar candies sold around Valentine s Day Each heart is printed with a message such as Be Mine Kiss Me Call Me Let s Get Busy or Miss You Sweethearts were made by the New England Confectionery Company or Necco before being purchased by the Spangler Candy Company in 2018 They were also previously made by the Stark Candy Company Necco manufactured nearly 8 billion Sweethearts per year 1 Similar products are available from Brach s and other companies 2 A similar type of candy is sold in the UK under the name Love Hearts while similar in formulation to Sweethearts Love Hearts are round with the heart design and message embossed on their surface Sweethearts box Contents 1 History 1 1 Flavor change 1 2 Bankruptcy and return 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Necco SweetheartsOliver R Chase invented a machine in 1847 to cut lozenges from wafer candy similar to Necco Wafers and started a candy factory 3 Daniel Chase Oliver s brother began printing sayings on the candy in 1866 He designed a machine that was able to press on the candy similar to a stamp The candy was often used for weddings since the candies had witty saying such as Married in pink he will take a drink Married in White you have chosen right and Married in Satin Love will not be lasting 4 The heart shaped conversation candies to be called Sweethearts got their start in 1901 Other styles were formerly produced such as lozenges postcards horseshoes watches and baseballs Line extensions carrying the Sweethearts brand include chocolates and sugar free hearts 4 nbsp A Sweetheart with the phrase LOL a relatively new phraseIn the 1990s Necco vice president Walter Marshall wanted to update some of the sayings and retire others The romantic expressions continue to be revised for young Americans Necco received hundreds of suggestions a year on new sayings 4 Necco produced the hearts year round but mixing of colors and packaging were ramped up beginning in September to meet the demand for the product at Valentine s Day 1 Approximately 100 000 pounds 45 000 kg of hearts were made per day which sells out in about six weeks 4 5 The company produces 8 billion hearts per year 1 Flavor change edit In 2010 the classic pastel candy formula was abandoned Sweethearts were made softer with vivid colors and new flavors These new flavors included sour apple and blue raspberry 6 The changes to the flavors and messages were unpopular with some fans 7 8 Bankruptcy and return edit In 2018 Necco declared bankruptcy The original plant closed 9 and their candy brands were sold off The rights to Sweethearts were acquired by Spangler Candy Company 10 With the purchase of the brand by Spangler Sweethearts were unavailable for Valentine s Day 2019 as Spangler set up production of the confections in a new plant 11 Sweethearts returned in 2020 with the original flavors from before Necco s 2010 change but due to equipment problems the familiar sayings were largely either incomplete or missing entirely 12 See also editFortune cookie Love Hearts British candy version of Sweethearts List of confectionery brandsReferences edit a b c Abraham Lisa Candy hearts celebrating 150 years of sweetness The Columbus Dispatch EGKOLFOPOULOU MISYRLENA Benveniste Alexis Bloomberg News 2019 02 13 With Candy Heart Maker Necco Out of Business Other Confectioners Vie for Valentine s Day Love Fortune Retrieved 2019 02 14 NECCO History Archived 2006 05 06 at the Wayback Machine a b c d New England Confectionery Comp 2010 Sweethearts Robins Clair 2019 01 18 Where are the SweetHearts CandyStore com Retrieved 2019 01 28 Wight Patty February 13 2010 A Twitter Over Updated Sweethearts Candy NPR Retrieved October 31 2023 Gray Joe January 26 2010 Pining for old Sweethearts The Stew Archived from the original on January 29 2010 Floyd Jacquielynn February 12 2010 Conversation Hearts overhaul is tough for some fans to swallow The Dallas Morning News Archived from the original on June 28 2011 Mettler Lyn 2019 01 22 This classic Valentine s Day candy may be missing from store shelves this year The Today Show Retrieved 2019 01 23 Ewers Josh September 21 2018 Spangler Candy buys Sweethearts NECCO Canada Mints and New Era campus The Bryan Times Retrieved 2019 01 23 Lucas Amelia January 23 2019 America s favorite Valentine s Day candy is unavailable this year CNBC Valentine s Sweethearts Candies Return This Year With Some New Changes Time 16 January 2020 Retrieved 2020 01 24 External links editNECCO s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sweethearts candy amp oldid 1201917495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
