Spangler has resurrected the wafers, which date back to 1847, after purchasing the Sweethearts and Necco brands in 2018. Necco was put up for auction earlier that year and later closed its doors ...

Why is that noteworthy? The deal saves from extinction New England Confection's namesake Necco Wafers, a sweet, chalky treat that consumers have either loved or despised since before the Civil War.

Necco sure hopes so. The 162-year-old Massachusetts company is taking its venerable Necco Wafers all-natural, making them the largest mass-produced candy line in the U.S. to shed artificial ...