What is the oldest US candy brand?

The title of oldest US candy brand is a bit tricky, as it depends on how you define "brand" and "candy."

Here are some contenders:

* New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), founded in 1847, is often cited as the oldest. They're known for their iconic wafers and other candies. However, they declared bankruptcy in 2018 and are currently in the process of being revived.

* Spangler Candy Company, founded in 1894, is known for their popular brands like Dum Dums lollipops and Circus Peanuts.

* The Hershey Company, founded in 1894, started as a small chocolate factory and has grown into a global powerhouse.

It's worth noting that some confectionery companies existed before these brands were established. For example, Walter M. Lowney, a confectioner, started making chocolate in Boston in 1848. However, it's hard to pinpoint the exact origin of a "brand" as we understand it today.

Ultimately, it's a matter of interpretation. While NECCO might be the oldest continuously operating candy company, Spangler and Hershey have a longer history of continuous production under their current names.