Mary Jane is an old-fashioned peanut butter- and molasses-flavored taffy-type candy.

Mary Jane
Mary Jane candies
Product typeCandy
OwnerAtkinson Candy Company
CountryUnited States
Introduced1914; 110 years ago (1914)
MarketsNorth America
Previous owners

History

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Originally made in 1914 by Robert O. Lord's candy manufacturing company, he named it after his favorite aunt. Lord sold his company to the Charles N. Miller Company during the Depression. It was then made by Stark Candy Company.[1] It was later manufactured by Necco starting in 2008 following their acquisition of Stark Candy.[1] Charles Miller initially made candy in his kitchen in what was once the home of Paul Revere.[2] It has featured the same "little girl" illustration on its wrappers since its inception.

Mary Jane candies were produced by Necco at The New England Confectionery Co. in Revere, Massachusetts,[3] until their 2018 bankruptcy, when Mary Janes and the company's other candy brands were auctioned off. No potential buyer was immediately found for Mary Janes.[4][5] As Necco's purchaser, Spangler Candy Company thus retained the brand, but with no plans to make the candy. In October 2019, it was announced that the Atkinson Candy Company would make and sell Mary Janes starting in 2020 under a licensing agreement with Spangler.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat - Andrew F. Smith. p. 442.
  2. ^ Mary Jane makes a sweet comeback Retrieved October 18,2020
  3. ^ "NECCO Candy Company History Timeline". Feb 7, 2019. Retrieved Oct 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Rosenberg, Eli. "Necco wafer factory abruptly shuts down after company is sold to unknown buyer". Retrieved Oct 14, 2020 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  5. ^ Emily Petsko (March 22, 2019). "Necco Wafers and Sweethearts Are Making a Comeback—Whether You Like It or Not". MentalFloss.com. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Atkinson to produce Mary Jane candies under agreement with Spangler Candy". candyindustry.com. Candy Industry. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
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