Food News

The Tragic Reason We’ll No Longer Get This Iconic Valentine’s Day Candy

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You’re going to have to figure out another way to tell your significant other that it’s “Puppy Love.” According to candystore.com, this Valentine’s Day will be the first in 153 years that Sweethearts Conversation Hearts will be MIA. So what exactly happened?

2018 was a tumultuous year for Sweethearts’ parent company, New England Confectionary Company (Necco). In March, the 171-year-old candy company woefully announced its plans to close after struggling with financial issues. This announcement was not taken lightly by Necco fans, and a public outcry sent buyers to bail Necco out of the hole. Round Hill Investments LLC bought Necco in May with plans to keep the candy plant open until at least November. However, this did not happen.

In July 2018, Round Hill Investments unexpectedly sold Necco and its brands to an undisclosed buyer, as the Boston Globe reported. And factory employees were suddenly informed that their jobs were now obsolete.

Just when Necco was seemingly dead in the water, another savior came to the company’s rescue. Spangler Candy Company finally picked up the pieces in September 2018, but not in time to save this year’s batch of Sweethearts.

Candystore.com reports Necco took 11 months, each year, to make the 8 billion Conversation Hearts sold during the 6-week period before Valentine’s Day. But due to their stop-and-go 2018, there was simply no time to get enough — if any — Sweethearts off the conveyer belts.

I guess we’ll have to settle for notes scribbled onto sidewalk chalk 🤷🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/ceUgJ4Sw8e
— Tony Paredes (@PastorTonySBC) January 23, 2019

Even though this is devastating news to those of us who look forward to Valentine’s Day simply because of the Sweethearts, there’s good news on the horizon. Sweethearts production is back on track and we should have plenty to give our loved ones next year.

“We are looking forward to announcing the relaunch of Sweethearts for the 2020 Valentine’s Day season,” Spangler CEO Kirk Vashaw told Candystore.com.

Having to go an entire year without Sweethearts is a hard pill to swallow.

😮🙀😱😮🙀Oh No
— Sally Bradley (@Sunshinebistro1) January 23, 2019

The world is really coming to an end
— Urban Distraction (@UDDistraction) January 23, 2019

This news is breaking my heart💔
— crisy (@crisy_la) January 23, 2019

And if you happen to come across Sweethearts on store shelves or online, these are definitely from years past. Make sure to check expiration dates before you dig in.

pic.twitter.com/BqQlAbraWT
— Alexis Frazier (@AlexisFrazierTV) January 23, 2019

Hey! Don’t be rude to our Sweethearts, dude.

"It took Necco 11 months to produce 8 billion conversation hearts—all of which would be sold in the 6 weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day."
No wonder them things stale af, some of them were made last March.
— H_Ram (@H_Ram) January 23, 2019