Welch's facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Welch's

Type	Agricultural cooperative
Industry	Beverages and Foods
Founded	1869; 156 years ago (1869) Vineland, New Jersey
Founder	Thomas Bramwell Welch
Headquarters	Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.
Products	Grape juice Grape soda Jams Jellies Fruit snacks Niagara Grape juice Strawberry soda Grape Cider
Parent	National Grape Cooperative Association Global Beverage Corporation (soda) Promotion in Motion, Inc. (fruit snacks)

Welch's fruit snacks are a popular product from Welch's.

Welch's is a well-known American company. It makes many tasty products like grape juice, jams, and jellies. The company's main office is in Concord, Massachusetts.

Since 1956, Welch's has been owned by the National Grape Cooperative Association. This is a special group of grape farmers. They work together to grow the grapes used in Welch's products. Welch's is famous for its dark Concord grape juice and its white Niagara grape juice. They also make other items like fruit snacks and dried fruit. You might even see Welch's name on grape-flavored soft drinks and strawberry soda.

How Did Welch's Start?

Welch's was started in 1869 by a dentist named Thomas Bramwell Welch. He lived in Vineland, New Jersey. His son, Charles Welch, also helped him.

In 1956, the company was sold to the National Grape Cooperative Association. This group includes about 1,300 grape growers. These farmers are from places like Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, and even Ontario, Canada.

In the 1960s, Welch's was a big sponsor of the TV show The Flintstones. The cartoon characters often appeared in Welch's TV commercials. They were also on jars of Welch's grape jelly. These jars could even be used as drinking glasses after the jelly was gone! Later, in the early 1970s, characters from The Archies cartoon were on the jars.

Where Are Welch's Products Made?

One of the oldest buildings linked to Welch's is the Welch Factory Building No. 1. It is located in Westfield, New York. This building was added to a list of important historical places in 1983. The company's biggest factory is about 17 miles away. It is located in North East, Pennsylvania.

The Story of Welch's Grape Juice

The idea of making grape juice that doesn't turn into wine came from Thomas Bramwell Welch. He was a doctor and dentist. In 1869, he found a way to heat grape juice to stop it from fermenting. This process is called pasteurization.

Thomas Welch was part of a church group that wanted to use unfermented grape juice instead of wine for church services. Welch moved to Vineland, New Jersey. He started making his "unfermented wine" from local grapes. He called it "Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine."

In 1893, Thomas Welch and his son Charles officially started the Welch's Grape Juice Company. They set up their company in Westfield, New York. Their grape juice was even given to visitors at big international shows.

As more people supported the idea of not drinking alcohol, grape juice became very popular. In 1913, a government official named William Jennings Bryan served grape juice instead of wine at a formal event. In 1914, the head of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, banned alcohol on naval ships. He replaced it with grape juice.

During World War I, Welch's supplied "grapelade" to the military. This was a type of grape jam. The company also advertised a lot. They sponsored radio and TV shows, which helped them become very successful.

What Products Does Welch's Make Today?

Welch's makes many different kinds of juices, jellies, jams, and snacks.

Juices

100% Juices

• Concord Grape
• Concord Grape with Calcium
• Concord Grape with Fiber
• Red Grape
• White Grape
• White Grape Cherry
• White Grape Peach
• Black Cherry Concord Grape
• Apple
• Pineapple Apple
• Orange

Juice Drinks

• Fruit Punch
• Mango Twist
• Orange Pineapple Apple
• Peach Medley
• Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• Apple Cranberry
• Grape
• Passion Fruit
• Mango Passion Fruit
• Mango Pineapple
• Orange Pineapple
• Strawberry Kiwi
• Tropical Carrot

Refrigerated Juices

• Concord Grape
• Passion Fruit
• Berry Pineapple Passion Fruit
• Guava Pineapple
• Mountain Berry
• Mango Twist
• Dragon Fruit Mango
• Watermelon Lemonade

Diet and Light Juices

• Diet Concord Grape
• Diet Cranberry Grape
• Light Concord Grape

Sparkling Juices

Welch's Sparkling Rosé Grape Juice is a bubbly drink.

• Sparkling Red Grape
• Sparkling White Grape
• Sparling Rosé Grape
• Sparkling Cider
• Sparkling Sangria
• Sparkling Strawberry Daiquiri

Jellies and Jams

• Concord Grape Jelly
• Concord Grape Jam
• Natural Concord Grape Spread
• Reduced Sugar Concord Grape Jelly
• Strawberry Spread
• Natural Strawberry Spread

Snacks

• PB&J sealed crustless sandwiches
• Fruit Snacks
• Juicefuls
• Fruit 'n Yogurt
• Fresh Fruit
• Organic Juice Ice Bar
• Sparkling Soda
• Slush Pouch (Concord Berry, Concord Grape, White Grape Cherry, and White Grape Peach)
• Protein Smoothies
• Gelatin (Grape and Strawberry Peach)

Who Has Advertised for Welch's?

Welch's works with advertising companies to tell people about their products. They want to share information about what's in Welch's products and the company's long history.

Some people who have been in Welch's TV commercials include:

• Travis Tedford
• Emily Mae Young
• Isla Ng
• Shyann McClure
• Alton Brown