Which company bought Sweethearts candies from Necco in 2018?

Spangler Candy Company bought Sweethearts candies from Necco in 2018.

The purchase followed the bankruptcy of the New England Confectionery Company, better known as Necco. Spangler acquired several Necco brands, including Sweethearts, Necco Wafers, and Canada Mints, reportedly in a deal worth about $18.8 million.

Sweethearts are the pastel, stamped conversation hearts strongly associated with Valentine’s Day. Spangler, an Ohio candy maker best known for Dum Dums lollipops, had to move equipment from Necco’s Massachusetts operation before restarting production. That transition caused Sweethearts to disappear from stores for the 2019 Valentine’s season.

A common mix-up is confusing Sweethearts with Brach’s Conversation Hearts. They are competing brands, not the same product. Another frequently mistaken detail is the timing: Spangler bought the brand in 2018, but production resumed later, with Sweethearts returning widely in 2020.