A squirrel mascot named Zipper is out to pitch Necco candy lines to young consumers

Boston Globe ^ | Chris Reidy

[nickcarraway]

Local geezers could go on at great length about Necco Wafers, a candy invented hereabouts in the mid 1800s. Now the candy’s maker, the New England Confectionary Co. of Revere, wants its sweets to be equally esteemed by young consumers.

So, following an ad agency review, the company selected the Noonan Creative Group of Framingham to design a website that might beguile a younger demographic of candy lovers and to alert them that Necco doesn’t just make its eponymous Wafers, but that its candy line-up also includes such classics as the vintage peanut-butter chew known as the Mary Jane, not to mention the Clark Bar, and Haviland Thin Mints.

In sizing up its assignment, Noonan saw great potential in a brand that Necco licensed to manufacture in 2004 --- Squirrel Nut Zippers. (Not to be confused with a rock band with the same name, Squirrel Nut Zippers are candy chews whose chief ingredients include caramel and peanuts.)

According to Necco’s website, the Squirrel candy brand dates back to 1888 and has Boston and Cambridge roots. The brand also had a mascot --- a mischievous squirrel.

Noonan decided to animate this mascot, dubbed Zipper, and post a video about his antics on Youtube. In one video, Zipper tries to destroy other candies and in doing so, accidentally creates new ones. Besides the Youtube star treatment, Zipper also has his own website, brand.”www.whereszipper.com.

[cripplecreek]

[Nowhere Man]

Necco Wafers are fun. My friend and I used to play a game a long time ago while driving our old Ford small LTD's (he had a 1985, I had a 1986) where we'd put a pack in the slot on the dashboard and watch them slide back and forth as we drove around bends until it went off the edge. It was a hoot. I've also talked to people who used them as skeet targets at a pistol range for .22LR weapons.

Clark Bars, my grandmother worked at the factory on the North Side of Pittsburgh, every Easter was a motherlode of Clark Bars, Zagnuts and so on.

[the invisib1e hand]

wait ‘til Bloomberg gets wind of this.

[a fool in paradise]

Also available in PLAIN flavor.

[a fool in paradise]

[momtothree]

Isn’t that the truth! The squirrel is a cute idea but Necco wafers? Paste and water!

[Gay State Conservative]

As a kid in the 60’s I used to go the Lechmere on First Street in Cambridge (to buy records) and I'd pass near the Necco factory...I still remember the smells that came from the factory.

[a fool in paradise]

wait ‘til Bloomberg gets wind of this.

Nanny Bloomberg already has put out an All Points Bulletin to bring in this vehicle.

[aposiopetic]

Yes. Distinctive. Smell duly noted.

[Mears]

I loved the black Necco wafers.

[a fool in paradise]

Besides the Youtube star treatment, Zipper also has his own website, brand.”www.whereszipper.com.

"

"Where's my zipper?"

[I see my hands]

Lechmere Sales is where I first ran up a credit card. Necco (on Mass in Cambridge) is where I earned the dough to pay it off.

[patriot08]

Love Neccos and Haviland thin mints!

[raccoonradio]

I def. remember Necco wafers, the SNZ band etc....and a longtime Boston nightclub, the Channel, was located at 25 Necco St

[PubliusMM]

Necco Wafers and Smarties...best damn candies ever made. No muss, no fuss, just good fun. First had them back in my younger days, many years ago.

For the past twenty years or so, whenever I’ve had to visit a friend or a family member in the hospital, I always take along (usually from the hospital gift shop) a dozen or so rolls of Chocolate Necco wafers... They will cure just about anything, at least for a while.
Once bought the whole lot they had in stock at one hospital (almost a hundred rolls) for a large gathering of folks supporting my mother, for her cancer surgery.

[RichInOC]

Squirrels’ nuts got zippers?

[aposiopetic]

In case the "Not to be confused with a rock band with the same name" allusion seemed obscure, attention is commended to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ASvVpmTGSQ. I'm not sure it's rock, but there is an interesting klezmer/swing influence in there somewhere.

[Venturer]

Squirrel nut Zippers and Mary Janes have pulled more fillings out than any twenty dentists.

I used to love them before I was loaded with fillings.

[aposiopetic]

Feel free to weigh in, on account of personal/professional interest in rock.