No Sweethearts for Valentine's Day?!

Sweethearts, a Valentine’s Day tradition since they first hit the market in 1901, will be missing from store shelves this year, according to KTLA sister station WPIX in New York City.

“We look forward to announcing the Sweethearts relaunch for the 2020 Valentine season,” Spangler Chairman and CEO Kirk Vashaw said...

  KTLA

New 2020 slogans on the hearts:

 (Make your own.)

...in a September 2018 company press release announcing the candy conglomerate had acquired the classic brand — meaning there will be no new stock hitting the shelves this holiday.

So...stores could still put out last year's overstock on the shelves. Those things don't have a shelf life, do they?

Spangler, who also owns famous candies like Dum-Dums lollipops and Circus Peanuts, acquired both Sweethearts and NECCO Wafers, and the equipment that makes them, after New England Confectionary Company (NECCO) declared bankruptcy and closed their Massachusetts factory in July of last year.

Before closing their doors, NECCO was the country’s oldest continuously operating candy company.

And thank god someone saved them. I'm guessing the original recipe was a failed try at something else that turned into a substance that will break your teeth.

It’s always possible consumers might encounter NECCO-brand Sweethearts in stores, but they won’t be new.

Aha. I was right.

But all hope is not lost for lovers of these kinds of sweets. Candy maker Brach’s sells their own version of conversation hearts for those who can’t imagine a Valentine’s without this style of candy.

Yeah, the rip-off company.  Boycott 'em.

...but hey, do what you want...