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No Candy Hearts This Valentine’s After Company Folds — Here’s How to Stock Up on What’s Left

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Sweethearts are like candy corn — either you love them or you don’t. Regardless of where you place them in your ranking of Valentine’s Day candy, one thing’s for sure: They’re an iconic part of the holiday. Unfortunately, they’ll be a little harder to find this year. 

These beloved candy hearts may be the most popular Valentine’s Day candy, but they won’t be on store shelves near you. Last year, the New England Confectionary Co., which made Sweethearts, went out of business and was later sold to Spangler Candy Co. in September. As a result, Spangler didn’t have enough time to make an adequate amount of Sweethearts for Valentine’s Day 2019.

“There are a lot of manufacturing challenges and unanswered questions at this point, and we want to make sure these brands meet consumer expectations when they re-enter the market,” Spangler Chairman and CEO Kirk Vashaw said in a statement at the time. 

You can still find some Sweethearts online for eye-watering prices ($9.99 for a 16 oz. bag, Amazon), but these either are not the original Sweetheart candies or are leftover from previous years. (Candy does expire, so it’s ultimately your choice whether you eat it.)

The silver lining for those tongue-tied teens looking to confess their true love to their crushes is that Sweethearts are coming back in 2020. Vashaw confirmed the news to candystore.com, saying, “We are looking forward to announcing the relaunch of Sweethearts for the 2020 Valentine’s Day season.”

If this devastating update throws a wrench in your Valentine’s Day plans, the good news is there are plenty of other Valentine’s Day desserts you can whip up for your significant other instead. Alternatively, why not start a new Valentine’s Day tradition where you ditch the candy entirely? Instead of showering your beau with sugary gifts, sit down and write a heartfelt Valentine’s Day card instead. Just because there’s no sugar doesn’t mean it’s not equally sweet!

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