James O. Welch Company was an American
confectionery manufacturer. James O. Welch (1906–1985) founded the company bearing his name in
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Greater Boston, Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most ...
, in 1927. The company introduced many enduring brands, including
Junior Mints
Junior or Juniors may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''Junior'' (Junior Mance album), 1959
* ''Junior'' (Röyksopp album), 2009
* ''Junior'' (Kaki King album), 2010
* ''Junior'' (LaFontaines album), 2019
Films
* ''Junior'' (1994 ...
,
Sugar Daddys, and
Sugar Babies. Other candies they produced were Welch's Fudge, Welch's Frappé, Pom Poms, and
Sugar Mamas.
James O. Welch Company was purchased by the National Biscuit Company (now
Nabisco
Nabisco (, abbreviated from the earlier name National Biscuit Company) is an American manufacturer of cookies and snacks headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey. The company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Mondelēz International.
Nabisco ...
) in 1963. Welch served as a director of Nabisco from 1963 until 1978, and his son, James O. Welch Jr. (1931-2019) became president of Nabisco when it became part of Nabisco Brands and CEO and chairman of Nabisco Brands when it became part of
RJR Nabisco. The Welch brands were sold to
Warner-Lambert in 1988;
Tootsie Roll Industries
Tootsie Roll Industries is an American manufacturer of confectionery based in Chicago, Illinois. Its best-known products include the namesake Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops. Tootsie Roll Industries currently markets its brands internationally ...
acquired them in 1993.
Following the collapse of his own confectionery company, the Oxford Candy Company, during the
Great Depression in the United States, James O. Welch's brother,
Robert W. Welch, Jr., joined the James O. Welch Company. He stayed with the company until 1956. He used his wealth from the family candy companies to found the
right-wing
Right-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position on the basis of natural law, economics, autho ...
political
advocacy group
Advocacy groups, also known as interest groups, special interest groups, lobbying groups or pressure groups use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and ultimately policy. They play an important role in the develop ...
the
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ideas.
...
in 1958.
References
Confectionery companies of the United States
Tootsie Roll Industries brands
{{food-company-stub