ITC Limited

ITC Limited
Name	ITC Limited
Type	Public
Traded as	BSE: 500875, NSE: ITC, BSE SENSEX Constituent, NIFTY 50 Constituent
Foundation	24 August 1910
Founder	Alfred Herbert Levy
Location	Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Key people	Sanjiv Puri (Chairman & Managing Director)
Industry	Conglomerate
Products	FMCG, Hotels, Paperboard, Packaging, Agribusiness
Revenue	▲ ₹ 703.31 billion (2024)
Num employees	~25,000 (2024)

ITC Limited is a leading Indian multinational corporation and conglomerate headquartered in Kolkata. Originally incorporated as the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited on 24 August 1910, the company has diversified far beyond its origins. Today, it is one of India's foremost private sector companies with a significant presence in FMCG, Hotels, Paperboard, Packaging, and Agribusiness.

History

The company was founded in 1910 in Kolkata by Alfred Herbert Levy as a subsidiary of the British American Tobacco. It was initially focused on the cigarette and tobacco trade, operating under the name Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited. Following India's independence, the company began a strategic process of Indianisation and was renamed India Tobacco Company Limited in 1970, before adopting the acronym ITC in 1974. A pivotal shift began in the 1970s under the leadership of Ajit Narain Haksar, who spearheaded diversification into hotels with the launch of the ITC Hotels chain, starting with the ITC Maurya in New Delhi. This marked the beginning of its transformation into a multi-business conglomerate, later expanding into paperboard, packaging, agribusiness, and FMCG.

Business segments

ITC's operations are structured into several key clusters. The **FMCG** segment includes popular brands such as Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, YiPPee!, Classmate, and Mangaldeep, spanning staples, biscuits, snacks, noodles, personal care, and stationery. The **Hotels** business operates a chain of luxury properties under brands like ITC Hotels, Welcomhotel, and Storii across destinations including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Jaipur. The **Paperboards, Paper & Packaging** division is a market leader, supplying to various industries. The **Agribusiness** segment is one of India's largest exporters of agricultural products like soybeans, coffee, and wheat. Other segments include **Information Technology**, managed through ITC Infotech.

Corporate social responsibility

ITC's corporate social responsibility philosophy is channeled through its Mission Sunehra Kal initiative. Its flagship program is the **ITC e-Choupal**, a digital infrastructure initiative that empowers farmers in agricultural regions across states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra by providing real-time market information. The company also runs large-scale afforestation and watershed development projects, and has created significant livelihood opportunities. These efforts are aligned with its commitment to environmental sustainability and socio-economic development.

Financial performance

ITC has demonstrated consistent and robust financial growth, with its FMCG business now being the largest revenue contributor. For the financial year ending March 2024, the company reported a gross revenue of ₹ 703.31 billion. It is a consistent high dividend payer and maintains a strong balance sheet with high credit ratings from agencies like CRISIL and ICRA. The company is a heavyweight constituent of major indices like the BSE SENSEX and the NIFTY 50 on the National Stock Exchange of India.

Leadership and governance

The company is chaired and led by Sanjiv Puri, who serves as Chairman and Managing Director. He succeeded Yogesh Chander Deveshwar, a transformative leader who served as Chairman for over two decades. The corporate governance structure includes a Board of directors with several independent directors and committees for audit, nomination and remuneration, and risk management. ITC is recognized for its strong adherence to corporate governance norms and ethical business practices.

Awards and recognition

ITC has received numerous accolades for its business performance and sustainability efforts. It has been ranked among the **World's Best Regarded Companies** by Forbes magazine and is consistently featured in lists of India's most valuable brands. The company's sustainability initiatives have earned it recognition as the only company in the world to be **carbon, water, and solid waste recycling positive** for over a decade. Its hotels have received the LEED Platinum certification, and it has won multiple awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for its advertising.

Category:Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Category:Conglomerate companies of India Category:Companies based in Kolkata