A company that once rescued the Twinkies brand is now taking over the maker of Necco Wafers.
The family business of billionaire Dean Metropoulos announced Friday that it paid $17.3 million for the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco.
It's a surprise ending to a federal bankruptcy auction that initially left Necco to an Ohio company.
Spangler Candy Co. made the highest bid last week, but court records say it refused to close without a price reduction.
Instead, a deal closed Thursday to sell Necco to a Connecticut-based branch of Metropoulos' company, which made the second-highest bid.
His firm previously bought Hostess, the maker of Twinkies, out of bankruptcy in 2013.
The 171-year-old Necco is based near Boston and is also known for its Sweethearts candies sold around Valentine's Day.
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