Necco

Necco (New England Confectionery Company) is one of the oldest confectionery manufacturing companies in the U.S. Currently, it is owned by American Capital Strategies. The company is the merging of three separate candy companies.

History
The history of Necco dates back to 1847, when Oliver R. Chase invented a wafer cutting candy machine in Boston. Chase and his brother, Silas Edwin, founded Chase and Company, and started manufacturing candies. In 1850, Chase invented a sugar-pulverizing machine and in 1854, they introduce Oriental-style sweets to the U.S.

Daniel Fobes and Joseph G. Ball founded the Ball and Fobes Company in 1848. In 1860, Ball and Fobes Company acquired a confectionery business owned by Albert Webster. Joseph .G. Ball retired in 1865, and Albert F. Hayward became his successor. The company was renamed Fobes, Hayward and Company.

The third member of what would become Necco, Bird, Wright and Company was founded in 1856 by William Wright and Charles Bird. Abner J. Moody, son-in-law of William Wright became a partner of Bird, Wright and Company in 1867, and it was renamed Wright and Moody.

Chase and Company expanded its business to Chicago by 1864. The “Conversation Candies’ introduced by Chase and Company in 1866 became a very popular product. The same year, Chase introduced a new confectionary, Mocha.

Chase and Company was destroyed in the Chicago fire in 1871. Daniel Chase then became an employee of Fobes, Hayward and Company. But, Oliver Chase began rebuilding Chase and Company, and later it regained its power and popularity.

In 1901, the three companies, Chase and Company, Bird, Wright and Company, and Ball and Fobes Company merged to form the New England Confectionary Company (Necco). It opened two new manufacturing plants: one on Summer Street and one on Melcher Street in Boston. In the 1900s, it expanded its business to South America, Europe, England and Australia. In 1906, it also introduced Lenox Chocolates, which became a very popular product. It celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1922. By 1927, a new manufacturing plant was opened in Massachusetts. In 1933, Necco merged with Lovell and Covel Company. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1947 and 150th anniversary in 1997. On Dec. 21, 2007, Necco was acquired by American Capital Strategies.

Stats
Company headquarters: Revere, MA, USA
Ownership: Private subsidiary (owned by American Capital Strategies)
Number of manufacturing plants: One in Revere, MA
Annual revenue: $100 million
Number of employees: 650
Geography: USA, Europe, Australia
Demography: Natural and Organic

Brands
Necco Wafers
Mary Jane
Sweethearts
Sky Bar
Clark Bar
Haviland
Canada Mints
Candy Buttons
Mighty Malts Malted Milk Balls
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Slap Stix Caramel Pops
Mint Julep Chews
Peach Blossoms
Candy Cupboard and Masterpieces
Kettle Fresh
Stark Candy Raisin

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