Welch founded the Oxford Candy Company in Brooklyn, New York, a one-man operation until he hired his brother James to assist him. James Welch left to found his own candy company in 1925. The Oxford Candy Company went out of business during the Great Depression, but his brother's company, the James O. Welch Company, survived, and Welch was hired by his brother. Welch became director of sales and advertising for the company. The company began making caramel lollipops, renamed Sugar Daddies, and Welch developed other candies such as Sugar Babies, Junior Mints, and Pom Poms. Welch retired a wealthy man in 1956.
