#27: Necco Wafers

Necco Wafers, the brainchild of an English immigrant, was founded before their eponymous company was established. In the 1800s, Chase invented a cutting machine intended for lozenges, but instead, he created candy wafers. These found popularity among Union soldiers during the Civil War, earning the nickname ‘hub wafers.’

After being acquired by Necco in 1912, the wafers took on the Necco name and have retained it ever since. The wafers gained renewed popularity during WWII, thanks to the US government’s order for Necco to produce them for the military. The returning troops’ loyalty to the brand gave Necco a solid customer base, bolstering its advertising efforts in the post-war era.